FAI...New Manager is Heimir Hallgrimsson

[Baile Brigín 2]

I don't like the thought of them getting a free pass in this situation. A concession of the game would be swept under the carpet by UEFA.

If only.

There will be a huge sanction, doubly as big if UEFA perceive political influence.

Otherwise everyone will refuse to play them.

[trueblue1234]

I don't like the thought of them getting a free pass in this situation. A concession of the game would be swept under the carpet by UEFA.

If only.

There will be a huge sanction, doubly as big if UEFA perceive political influence.

Otherwise everyone will refuse to play them.

Hopefully when one country takes a stand more may follow. That may force UEFA's hand. Ireland can only do their bit tho, which should be to refuse to play.

[Armagh18]

I don't like the thought of them getting a free pass in this situation. A concession of the game would be swept under the carpet by UEFA.

If only.

There will be a huge sanction, doubly as big if UEFA perceive political influence.

Otherwise everyone will refuse to play them.

Which should be the aim.

[AustinPowers]

I don't like the thought of them getting a free pass in this situation. A concession of the game would be swept under the carpet by UEFA.

If only.

There will be a huge sanction, doubly as big if UEFA perceive political influence.

Otherwise everyone will refuse to play them.

Hopefully when one country takes a stand more may follow. That may force UEFA's hand. Ireland can only do their bit tho, which should be to refuse to play.

Only 4 or 5 boycotted Eurovision. It's unlikely  So many would boycott  this , especially since those same 4 or 5 countries  won't be facing  Israel in the same group.

Whoever boycotts will be doing it alone , and that's easy pickings for the  Nazi state given  the influence  they have

You'd nearly  think the draw was rigged so they could  do exactly that, to the  most outspoken country against them

[imtommygunn]

The basketball team was all set to pull out of their game (a good long while ago) but the sanctions etc they'd have fixed wouldn't have been worth it. Fail to fulfil this fixture and the bans would be significant. The basketball read like it was basically bye bye international team for quite a few years.

[Baile Brigín 2]

I don't like the thought of them getting a free pass in this situation. A concession of the game would be swept under the carpet by UEFA.

If only.

There will be a huge sanction, doubly as big if UEFA perceive political influence.

Otherwise everyone will refuse to play them.

Which should be the aim.

Agreed. But the idea UEFA won't meet this with fire is nonsense

[JollyGreenGiant]

In 1999 the Government forced the hand of the FAI when the ethnic cleanising of Kosovans was ongoing and NATO intervened, by refusing to grant the Yugoslav players visas. The Euro 2000 qualifier at home to Yugoslavia didn't get played at the scheduled time (and I think the FAI got a slap on the wrist. It was eventually claimed after the ethnic cleansing was stopped.

It's a shame that this history is not being retold, at least for context.

[AustinPowers]

Looking like a neutral venue. Likely Budapest

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0608/1577339-decision-due-today-on-irelands-home-fixture-with-israel/

[SaffronSports]

That's the most disgusting and weakest show of leadership I've ever seen.

[seafoid]

Looking like a neutral venue. Likely Budapest

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0608/1577339-decision-due-today-on-irelands-home-fixture-with-israel/

An appalling decision.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0608/1577339-decision-due-today-on-irelands-home-fixture-with-israel/
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: "Our motion supports the Stop the Game campaign - the call is quite clear for the game not to proceed in Ireland or anywhere.

"There is no support for our national team to play, under our tricolour, against Israel while there is a genocide ongoing," she said.

Socials Democrats Spokesperson on Sport Sinéad Gibney said: "Moving the fixture is an attempt to brush this under the rug - and will deny the Irish people an opportunity to engage in peaceful protest," said the Dublin Rathdown TD.

She said: "It also doesn't change the fact that this game should not be played. Ireland should be not facilitating the sportswashing of a nation which has been committing war crimes for nearly three years.

"I am also very concerned about the pressure that this decision will put on players and I would again appeal to the government and the FAI to intervene."

Those behind the 'Stop the Game' campaign say they will continue to push for the Ireland-Israel matches not to go ahead.

"This shameful cop-out by the FAI will not deter our campaign in the least," the group said in a statement.

"Moving the fixture to Budapest is no more acceptable than going ahead with the 1981 rugby games against apartheid South Africa would have been had they been moved to a neutral venue.

"Our message for the FAI and government will continue to grow louder: Not here, not anywhere. No game."

[JollyGreenGiant]

In many ways a decision that is only marginally better than carrying on as normal and holding the fixture in Dublin without a word.

It greatly limits the possibility of legal and dignified protest. It prevents protest outside the ground on the day of the match and the scope of related activities which can take place.

In short, the fixture is being validated (as is Israel's ongoing presence in the NL), and fans objections will (in effect) be silenced.

And, as an aside, we are going through all this only to hand over home advantage. It's a typical Irish solution, which essentially will do zip to help those currently suffering, and will hand Israel an advantage in the context of the game.

[Captain Scarlet]

For starters I don't think Israel should be allowed to compete at all - but EUFA say it's A-OK!
That takes away a lot of options for Ireland and the FAI, who are always skint, can't afford to take the hit and sanctions that would be incoming.

When the powers that be in UEFA and World Football, as well the EU and Irish Governments abdicate responsibiliuty the FAI are screwed.

As mentioned the basketball team were hung out to dry and were caught in a no-win situation.

I know we lose the right to protest but we also don't have to deal with Zionist hooligans, with Mossad support, running riot in Dublin and then playing the victim card.
Like in Amsterdam the Israelis feckin set an evacuation plan into action for lads who had been terrorising the city for the previous two days - and who were fying out the next day anyway.

The truth only trickled out eventually but there is no winning on this for Ireland. As I said you take away the platform to protest but there would be war in Dublin that evening too and the garda would get villified too.

[Baile Brigín 2]

That's the most disgusting and weakest show of leadership I've ever seen.

Cough cough, Allianz....

[Main Street]

It's a ridiculous pie in the sky notion to expect other teams to follow Ireland's example should the FAI refuse to play Israel.Either the FAI get commitment first from other nations or hump Israel on the playing pitch. In any event the FAI refusing to play is not an option, that horse has bolted. Israel wont have more than 200 supporters at the games, there will be plenty of opportunity for the motivated football supporters to formulate a protest and garner publicity. Then we know it's coming from real fans and not just activist denizens jumping on a political opportunity bandwagan.

[Baile Brigín 2]

It's a ridiculous pie in the sky notion to expect other teams to follow Ireland's example should the FAI refuse to play Israel.Either the FAI get commitment first from other nations or hump Israel on the playing pitch. In any event the FAI refusing to play is not an option, that horse has bolted. Israel wont have more than 200 supporters at the games, there will be plenty of opportunity for the motivated football supporters to formulate a protest and garner publicity. Then we know it's coming from real fans and not just activist denizens jumping on a political opportunity bandwagan.

But this is a stand. Not the best one, but realistically the strongest they can make without getting absolutely pulvarised by UEFA.

The football team representing Israel, it's officials and fans are not welcome in Dublin. Business as usual cannot happen.