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

Palestinian footballers arrested by Israel

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--extends-detention-of-palestinian-national-football

Israeli authorities have extended the detention of Rand Halawani, a 20-year-old player on the Palestinian women's national football team, after she was summoned for questioning in occupied Al-Quds, as the occupation continues its systematic targeting of Palestinian athletes, the Palestinian Football Association has announced.

Halawani was arrested on Tuesday evening, and an occupation court subsequently extended her detention until Friday, according to the Palestinian governorate of occupied Al-Quds. The Palestinian Football Association denounced the prolonged detention, stating that Halawani's arrest and that of a former national team player "is not an isolated incident, it is part of a well-documented pattern of systematic targeting of Palestinian athletes, which continues without accountability."

On the same day, Israeli forces also arrested former national football player Natalie Abu Diyeh, a student at Birzeit University, along with three other young Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military claimed in a statement that the four women were suspected of "promoting terrorist activities and additional terrorist-related activities."

Are you going to explain the significance of Israel playing the same number of friendlies as Ireland yet?

You thought that was a great gotcha.

Ah that reminds me you spent ages trying to claim I had actually said they didn't serve in the IDF at all and it took many many many attempts to get you to properly read my post and admit your "mistake". Theres so many misreadings you make it can be hard.

Israel won 1-0 tonight BTW

Was there any notable protests in last nights game?

The stadium was only a quarter full, Israeli anthem was heavily booed, the Albanian players became involved in a punch up with the Israelis after the winning goal was scored and numerous missiles were thrown on the pitch.

Something seriously dodgy about the way this "friendly" (that the home supporters didn't want) was arranged by the Albanian FA.

Going by latest fake outrage about Robbie Keane and the Celtic job, I'd say soon enough!

Oh, that idea has been floated around by quite a few of them. At our meeting, we had Celtic v Palestine here to raise money, for the FAI. The Palestinians have been through a tough time over the last few years. I think it's a bit much to ask them to travel over here to play in a fundraiser for Irish football.

At the moment, Celtic fans are protesting against the appointment of Robbie Keane as their manager because he managed in Israel. Reading some of the nonsense they post about him, you'd swear he was leading the IDF into battle.

We really are living in interesting times.