Ireland vs Israel - To play or not to play, that is the question Read OP for Mod Warning

You're presuming that Ireland would be banned from international competition. That is only a threat at this point. There is no instance (that I'm aware of) where a country was banned in the manner it is being suggested as fact would happen with respect to Ireland.

I think it is much more likely that if Ireland refused to play, and UEFA actually moved to ban them, other teams would also refuse to play in support of unfair enforcement of the law by UEFA.

If that were to happen, Ireland could play another team that had stepped out or had been banned by UEFA.

I'm not saying all of this would happen, I'm saying we don't know what definitely would happen.

Ita amazing how you want to disregard the "we dont know what would happen" on sanctions/punishments of an FAI led boycott but at the same time you previously posted about the "potential of sanctions against israel" outcome of a boycott which is every bit as an unknown. You cannot have it both ways.

You've said it yourself, I've posted about "potential" sanctions, I'm countering posts that are being written as if they are fact.

National teams have been banned in the past, the biggest reason has been government/state interference in FA affairs. Hence the Irish Government are not going to interfere with this.

I've never suggested the Irish government get involved in this in any way that would cause the FAI to be banned. Don't know what point you're trying to make here.

What we do know, based on statements by the CEO Dave Courell is that there would be significant consequences for the FAI and Irish football if they did boycott the two games. He is not saying that for the sake of it.

He is saying it because it allows him to hold his hands up, nothing he can do, etc. And I don't necessarily blame him. I get it, he has a job to do. But that doesn't mean I immediately take his word for it. Time and again we see people in various roles say nothing can be done, but next thing you know, something is done.

What we also know is failure to fulfil fixtures will result in major loss of revenue. Home games = ticket and other income. Away games are part of the TV deal. Which is a significant issue for the FAI. As previously explained to you, Uefa Pay the bills.

I've already suggested an alternative to make up for the shortfall in income. You disagree, that's fine, I'm not bothered. But you can keep repeating the same message over and over, it's not going to change my mind. A, I think the loss of income could be mitigated and overcome and B we're talking about a genocidal warmongering state here.

You know the phrase "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"? I'm not for a second talking like whether or not the game goes ahead is the deciding factor in the fate of the Palestinians, but every time a country engages with Israel in a way that allows them to be portrayed as a normal acting country on the world stage, it involves people who would want to be seen as good, choosing to not act in that way. That was the case in the rise of Nazism, and it is still the case now.

You think there is this hidden groundswell of support for Hamas out there.

Careful kid, you're showing your true colours a bit there.