The General Assembly of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has approved a proposal for the Republic of Ireland to proceed with their scheduled Nations League matches against Israel.
The proposal was carried during an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, with 75 votes in favor and 32 opposed from 114 members present, along with three abstentions.
The resolution presented by the FAI declared: “While being conscious of the strong sentiments regarding support for Palestine and the forthcoming Uefa Men’s Nations League fixtures, the members acknowledge the severe consequences that any failure to fulfil Uefa fixtures would impose on Irish football as a whole and its future progress, and therefore endorses the Association meeting its commitments in relation to those fixtures.”
The special meeting was convened after more than 10% of the FAI’s membership voiced opposition to playing the Nations League games, though the outcome of the meeting is not binding on the FAI board.
The FAI released a statement on Wednesday, noting that the adoption of the motion “provides the FAI board with the backing to keep making decisions in the interests of Irish football.”
“The organization appreciates and honors the opinions shared by its members, along with those of players and staff, fans, activists, the public, and the wider Irish football community concerning the 2026-27 Uefa Nations League encounters between Ireland and Israel,” the statement added.
“The body will keep coordinating with various stakeholders and back the Ireland squad during its upcoming Uefa Nations League campaign.”
The FAI had earlier indicated that refusing to play the autumn fixtures against Israel would inflict “major and enduring harm” on Irish football and could result in a financial shortfall of around 10.3 million euros (£9 million).
Subsequent to the February Nations League draw, the FAI confirmed it would honor the schedule, with chief executive David Courell stating the governing body was left with “no choice” and could encounter “serious repercussions” should it withdraw from the matches.
Calls for a boycott have been growing within the Republic of Ireland.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Aviva on Wednesday as the EGM was in progress, while similar protests also occurred outside the Dail (Irish parliament) earlier this year.
A friendly match against Qatar in May was interrupted on two occasions when tennis balls displaying the Palestine flag were tossed onto the field.
The group Irish Sport for Palestine has additionally initiated a ‘Stop the Game’ campaign.
Both upcoming fixtures against Israel are set to take place at neutral locations.
The contest scheduled as Israel’s home fixture on 27 October will be held in Debrecen, Hungary, while the Republic’s home match is planned for 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia, played without spectators after Uefa granted an FAI request owing to “operational issues” in staging the game in Dublin.
The Israeli military began operations in Gaza in reaction to the unexpected Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which claimed around 1,200 lives and saw 251 individuals taken captive.
Since that point, at least 73,035 individuals have lost their lives in Israeli strikes on Gaza, among them more than 21,280 children, based on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, which are regarded as credible by the United Nations.
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