Members of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have voted to move forward with the upcoming Uefa Nations League matches against Israel. The decision occurred during an Extraordinary General Meeting at the Aviva Stadium, where 75 members supported the motion, 32 opposed it, and three abstained.
The motion acknowledged the public desire to boycott the games in protest of the conflict in Gaza but argued that failing to play would cause long-term damage to the future of Irish football. While the vote provides a mandate for the FAI board, it remains non-binding. The governing body previously warned that withdrawing from the fixtures could result in severe penalties and a financial loss of approximately 10.3 million euros.
Both matches are slated for neutral locations. The game hosted by Israel is set for Debrecen, Hungary, on October 27, while the Republic of Ireland’s home leg will take place in Backa Topola, Serbia, on October 4. The latter match will be held behind closed doors due to operational concerns in Dublin.
Protesters gathered outside the Aviva Stadium during the meeting, reflecting ongoing pressure from groups such as Irish Sport for Palestine to cancel the fixtures. Despite this, the FAI maintains that it must fulfill its obligations to avoid serious consequences from European football authorities.
