Irish players vote to play Israel Nations League fixtures despite boycott calls | OneFootball

Irish players have voted by a clear majority to play their two Nations League fixtures against Israel, despite calls for a boycott, the federation said on Saturday.

A team ballot was held to gauge sentiment within the squad and a significant majority favoured fulfilling the games. The first fixture is set for Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary.

One unnamed player has withdrawn from the squad for these matches. Sunday’s tie is being staged in Hungary because Israel cannot host international fixtures due to the security situation.

The return meeting, with Ireland the designated home side, will be played behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, on four October. The federation has also handed back its ticket allocation for travelling supporters, and the Irish broadcast will carry no commentary for the Debrecen game.

Ireland recognised a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly condemned the war in Gaza. More than 160 Irish athletes have urged the national team to boycott the fixtures, and protests have targeted the federation and players. On Thursday, midfielder Jason Knight became the first senior international to argue the Debrecen match should not take place, speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Kosovo.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”