Republic of Ireland General Discussion Thread 2026

Just forfeiting and handing them 3pts isn't much of a disadvantage.....

In terms of an actual football game with 3 points at stake etc. If we’re any good at all and we have improved; We’ll beat them anyway because they’re muck.

If the game is in Dublin (I don’t think it will be) it will be faced with huge disruption and protest. Or the game will be played in Hungary behind closed doors. Or the game doesn’t happen at all. One thing is certain it won’t be played with minimal disruption or protest or largely as if it’s a normal game of football. It’s not.

Were they, and yet FIFA only partially sanctioned Russia to begin with. But had to do a complete 180 less than 24hrs later and fully ban Russia when numerous other countries came out and said they will not play Russia.

I didn't see the last 20 minutes, but Umeh played well?

What annoyed me yesterday. Richie Sadlier seems to lap up this "performative politics" stuff. He said on air "The Irish politicians make statements". But Ireland can take real "action" by not playing the game v Israel! He wasn't challenged on it.

It sounded so daft to to me "action" how is it action it is purely symbolism!? The problem for the FAI in society now; particularly among the young, symbolism and "action" get conflated. But ultimately symbolism, achieves nothing other than lads patting themselves on the back, saying how great they are in a communal protest.

Surely you can tell the difference between making a statement saying country X is behaving in a way I think is wrong and refusing to participate in a match against county X?

In what sense is it "purely symbolism"? What would need to be done by the football team/association that would qualify as action if this doesn't?

Your ignorance is astounding.

It is complete performative stuff (the same mentality as those who particpate in flotilias) it is more about the protesters feeling good about themselves/having some fun/adventure (like the protestor another poster mentioned above) rather than actually, achieving anything. People looking like they are doing something.

Now whether a country participates in a tournament that is a wider football governing body - world or European. It has nothing to do with the FAI they have no real say.

What would qualify as "action"? They are footballers, not politicians. Playing the game of football v Israel and winning well is action as far as I am concerned. That is all most football people care about, lets be honest.

Its a crazy situation, Israel will play in Kosavo which is 90% Muslim but not here ,Kosavo will want to beat them on the pitch not forfeit the game.

Kosovans are generally Albanian and Albanian Muslims don't seem to have much connection to Middle Eastern ones. Attitudes to Arabs wouldn't be much different to any other part of former Yugoslavia or Albania itself.

More importantly Kosovo is probably the only place in the world who feel even more greatful to America for facilitating their land grabbing than Israel.

Theres also the fact Palestine still refuses to recognise Kosovo as independent from Serbia, and Palestine previously tried to host Milosevic until Israel threatened to arrest him if he set foot there.

So the Palestinians again backed the wrong horse backing the Serbs in the war.

If I was the players I'd refuse to play abroad in a behind closed door game. I'd like if they refused point blank in general but tell those in charge if you're not going to boycott at least have the balls to play the match at home.

Of course it's performative, go protest the UEFA headquarters if you want a protest they gave Israel license to compete the FAI have no say say who should or shouldn't be in the competition ….fail to fulfil a fixture it's they and the ordinary football fan who face sanctions nothing changes in the middle East, play the game nothing changes in the middle East

You have a very vocal very left leaning Pro Pally lobbyist group in Ireland, of course they were going to be all over this fixture …..'do the right thing' what's right for them doesn't make it right for everyone, if you are not left leaning you'd be a fool to row in with these people on anything because the chances are high they are the very people who will be counter-protesting you on the next matter

This stuff all fails to recognise that for this Israeli government being allowed to continue participating in international sports and cultural events is vital for them. It gives them validation in their twisted minds for what they’re doing in Gaza and other countries in that region. If they find themselves frozen out of international sporting and cultural events it undermines their support within Israel. There are precedents for the affect that international admonition can have on despotic regimes. Israel are desperate for inclusion and approval from the US and European countries.

If you think that genocide in Gaza and perpetrating murder and mayhem in other countries in the Middle East is just a concern of people who vote for the Left; again you’re failing to understand the situation.

What are you saying here exactly; “never mind the children of Gaza we can’t have the Lefty’s thinking that they won an argument about the staging of a soccer match here…..” Seriously? You don’t have to agree with people on every issue they campaign about just because you might agree on trying to do something about what the current Israeli government are guilty of perpetrating.

This Israel regime has gone completely rogue. It has committed genocide in Gaza (according to the UN). It is attacking Iran and Lebanon. It has a dangerous buffoon in the White House dancing to its tune.It is endangering world security and the world wide economy. If you think these are issues only “Lefties” care about you’re completely underestimating the situation.

Will Ireland not playing Israel affect what’s happening in the Middle East? Maybe not straight away but if it was the start of a movement where Israel is ostracised from international sports and cultural events it could change the type of government that gets elected into power in Israel. There is a reason why the Israeli government wants Israel to continue to be accepted by the international community by being included in sports and cultural events, they don’t want to be ostracised because over time that undermines their power. You and a couple of other posters here obsessed about “lefties” seem to be a little bit naive about that.