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

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 05:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509281#Comment_124509281

That is not in anyway guaranteed.

No one knows what sanctions UEFA would impose apart from the loss of the match 0-3, if we refused to play the match.

Listen to the Second Captains podcast yesterday (if you can).

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 05:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509308#Comment_124509308

Its not guaranteed. But it is a live option regardless that has to figure in any decision the FAI make.

There is also possibility that refusing to play those games could mean Austria and Kosovo demand Ireland be suspended from the Nations League as it gives Israel an unfair sporting advantage over them.

But the financial repercussions alone would create a major issue for the FAI.

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 05:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509323#Comment_124509323

Paddy, stop with the virtue signalling from your ivory tower on behalf of FAI employees that you care as much about as you do “Danish women”.

See my previous reply to you going forward for all further responses to anything you want to discuss with me about this game.

Tell me how · 29-05-2026 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509134#Comment_124509134

The point doesn't stand. It's trying to suggest that life should be lived as black and white when in reality every day we make subjective opinions as to when we feel a line has been crossed.

We do it on a personal level, we work with people who have unfavourable traits and usually we don't say anything, but a time comes when we feel a line has been crossed and we expect action with respect to them.

FFS, football clubs (and more importantly, their fans) do this continually when it comes to accepting the behaviour of players and whether or not they want them associated with their teams.

Qatar have plenty to be judged on. So too do Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the US, China, India, Myanmar and everyone, individuals, governments, elected bodies etc make decisions on what to maintain diplomacy and when to enforce sanctions or more. But what Israel has done, how it has done it, and how it has been enabled by western societies has resulted in most people in Ireland feeling that the line at which action should be taken has been crossed.

And football fans are in no position to demand binary objectivity given how they and their sport behave in that respect.

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 06:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509341#Comment_124509341

.

I never said I cared about Danish women.

Please point out where I said that from your ivory tower.

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Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 06:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509353#Comment_124509353

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509341#Comment_124509341

The point does stand. Where is the outrage about Qatar given Ireland chose to play them last night despite the obvious.

I guess protesting Qatar doesn't suit the agenda.

.

.

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 06:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509375#Comment_124509375

Ah so you brought Danish women up on the other thread for what reason then? (You refused to answer there)

You also don’t care about FAI employees or the finances of the organisation.

I’m a season ticket holder, who works in town so could have been at the Aviva 15 in 15 mins, and didn’t attend the match last night as I feel we shouldn’t be playing Qatar either.

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 06:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509393#Comment_124509393

Because people are focusing on Israel and ignoring the human rights abuses committed by Palestinians and Palestine as a nation. Why so selective?

I am a season ticket holder. I was in the Aviva last night. Am also a Shelbourne STH, will be in tolka park this evening. So i do actually care about Irish football, you can trot out your BS as much as you want but you have no idea about me or my life.

I was at the world Cup in 2002 and Euro 2016 (had to skip Euro 2012 as the wife gave birth to our 2nd child in june 2012)

walshb · 29-05-2026 06:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509353#Comment_124509353

well, last time I checked Ireland and Israel do not have any boycotts between our countries!! Play the game

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 06:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509414#Comment_124509414

People aren’t ignoring them. I’ve called out the Hamas attack multiple times, agree they’re a terrorist organisation that needs to go. Human rights no matter where in the world should be respected and in many nations unfortunately they are not, hence my non appearance last night despite paying for the match through my season ticket.

The crimes of a few do not equate to a nationality.

Would you condemn the entire Irish population based on crimes committed by Irish people abroad?

The Israeli regime/IDF are being focused on as they are committing a genocide, have murdered 50k+ women and children. Why don’t you care about that like you pretend to care about Danish women who have suffered some horrendous crimes perpetrated upon them?

You’re being very selective yourself who and what you want condemned or cared about.

You let your mask slip on the other thread, it’s purely because it’s Muslims that you don’t care, if you can’t admit it publicly, I hope that you at least acknowledge it yourself.

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 06:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509439#Comment_124509439

People are ignoring Qatar because not a word was said about Ireland not playing the friendly last night.

Well 7000 or so migrant workers, working in slavery conditions to build the stadiums in Qatar for the 2022 world cup, yet nobody protested against the friendly.

Qatar as a country has an appalling human rights record, Palestine also has. Gay men get persecuted and are victims of violence and women who are raped generally get marginalised in society and often victim blamed.

Again i never said I "cared about Danish women".

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509468#Comment_124509468

Whataboutery 101.

Read this paragraph again and come to terms with it if you haven’t already.

You let your mask slip on the other thread, it’s purely because it’s Muslims that you don’t care, if you can’t admit it publicly, I hope that you at least acknowledge it yourself.

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 06:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509475#Comment_124509475

I made either clear on the other thread i dont condone or condemn Israel. Nor do I support, or not support Palestine.

I dont know where your getting your "muslim" stuff from. Just making stuff up basically.

I basically dont care one way or another.

Enduro · 29-05-2026 06:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509439#Comment_124509439

The crimes of a few do not equate to a nationality.
Would you condemn the entire Irish population based on crimes committed by Irish people abroad?

Why does this not apply to the Israeli football team. You appear to be holding them responsible for crimes committed by the Israeli government.

dmcdona · 29-05-2026 06:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509483#Comment_124509483

IDF combat soldiers play/have played for Israel.

The IDF are renowned for committing war crimes - they even pop there atrocities up on tik tok for the craic.

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 06:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509480#Comment_124509480

Yet you brought up “Palestinians raping Danish women” but never mentioned any crimes Israelis have committed.

Your mask is off Paddy.

Tell me how · 29-05-2026 06:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509480#Comment_124509480

I basically dont care one way or another.

You spend an awful lot of time talking about something you claim you don't care about one way or another.

Why is that?

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 06:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509505#Comment_124509505

Like I said, I dont care one way or another.

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 06:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509483#Comment_124509483

As we are playing representatives of the Israeli regime.

Watch Richie Sadliers clip after the match last night, he summarises it very well.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY5lPC-NmvW/?igsh=MXU3NDRuOGt0Yjd5bQ==

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 07:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509511#Comment_124509511

Exactly, you don’t care so stop with the virtue signalling on behalf of the FAI employees.

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 07:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509508#Comment_124509508

Because I am an Irish football fans and dont want to see Irish football suffer

Anyway, i saw dave courell chatting to someone in the stands last night, was that you trying to pitch the Ireland v Celtic u19s games to him ??

Enduro · 29-05-2026 07:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509491#Comment_124509491

That doesn't answer the question I asked. Can you point out which individual footballers should be held accountable, or are different standards being applied for Israelis whereby the many are accountable for the sins of the few, in complete contrast to what the poster claimed should apply to Qatar?

Enduro · 29-05-2026 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509512#Comment_124509512

We are playing the Israeli football team, not the Israeli government. You are applying a completely different set of standards to Israelis than you are to others. You are holding the Israeli footballers accountable for the actions of the Israeli government, in complete contrast to your original assertion :

The crimes of a few do not equate to a nationality.
Would you condemn the entire Irish population based on crimes committed by Irish people abroad?

dmcdona · 29-05-2026 07:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509542#Comment_124509542

You didnt ask me a question - I was responding to this part of your post:

You appear to be holding them responsible for crimes committed by the Israeli government.

Israeli footballers serve in combat units of the IDF. IDF soldiers commit atrocities and war crimes, film them and put them on tik tok.

The Israeli players are being held responsible for being part of the army that is committing war crimes. As well as the genocidal govt. of course.

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 07:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509554#Comment_124509554

The Israeli football team are representatives of their government. Did you watch the clip I sent you?

The Israeli flag, the Israeli national anthem would be flown and played before the match. This automatically negates the whole “keep politics out of sport” argument for a start.

The Irish team aren’t being asked to play against a team of criminals from another country (ie Palestinian rapists as per other posters example). That would also be abhorrent and I’d protest and boycott that as well.

I also boycotted the Qatar friendly last night that cost me basically €55, which negates others arguments about wanting FAI employees to take a hit and not us who oppose the match.

I haven’t come across you previously throughout either thread, what are your views on the genocide?

Enduro · 29-05-2026 07:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509560#Comment_124509560

Again, you appear to be holding a collective responsible for the crimes of individuals. That is in complete contrast to what the poster says Irish people should be entitled to (That we should not be held responsible for crimes committed by our fellow citizens), which I happen to agree with. But I also think that the standard should also apply to Israelis.

If any of the footballers are alleged to have committed war crimes, then I'd be all in favour of them being arrested and put on trial.

If not, then I'm all in favour of applying the O.P.'s standard that the team should not be punished for war crimes committed by others of the same nationality.

Enduro · 29-05-2026 07:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509574#Comment_124509574

I'm not accountable for your inability to keep track of who posts on this thread or any other thread. I've no idea why you think that has any relevence, or that you have some kind of authority to question me because of your inabilities.

I didn't watch the clip for several reasons. The first being I'm asking YOU why YOU are applying different standards to Israelis than you would apply to Irish people. I'm not asking a football pundit about his opinion on this. If you can't defend your double standards without needing a football pundit to make a point for you then those standards appear pretty weak.

If members of the Israeli football team have committed war crimes, then arrest them and put them on trial. Otherwise apply the same standards as you want applied to Isish people :

The crimes of a few do not equate to a nationality.
Would you condemn the entire Irish population based on crimes committed by Irish people abroad?

Rocket_GD · 29-05-2026 07:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509600#Comment_124509600

I was just asking as I don’t know your views on the entire situation, there’s no need to be snarky over a simple question.

I’m not applying different standards, if the Irish army were committing a genocide I would hold the entire Irish population (including myself and the football team) to account for it for letting it occur.

The other poster was holding all Palestinians to account because of crimes of a few in Denmark that he says he doesn’t even care about.

It’s very simple really, not sure what part you find hard to understand?

Paddy_Mag · 29-05-2026 07:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509617#Comment_124509617

So the entire Irish nation would be responsible for the actions of the irish army, but the palestinian nation aren't repsonsonible for the attitude of Palestinian men towards women.

Hypocritical or what

dmcdona · 29-05-2026 07:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124509575#Comment_124509575

That's precisely what FIFA did to Russia. Do you think the Russia ban should be lifted then? Do you agree that FIFA is applying different standards in the case of Israel and Russia?

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

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