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A boycott of the Republic of Ireland’s game against Israel this autumn would cause “significant and lasting damage” to Irish football as well as a potential loss of €10.3m (£9m), the Football Association of Ireland says.
After the Nations League draw in February, the FAI confirmed it would fill the matches, with chief executive David Correll saying the governing body had “no choice” and could face “serious consequences” if it pulled out of the games.
However, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the FAI’s General Assembly was held when more than 10% of its members opposed playing Nations League games.
The EGM will be held on Wednesday, July 8, although its results are not binding on the FAI executive
The development led to increased pressure to boycott the games after protests outside the Dáil (Irish parliament) twice disrupted May’s friendly with Qatar after tennis balls emblazoned with the Palestinian flag were thrown onto the pitch.
A ‘Stop the Game’ campaign has also been launched by the Irish Sport for Palestine group.
In a resolution presented to its members, the FAI board said: “While acknowledging the support for Palestine and the strength of feeling regarding the upcoming UEFA Men’s Nations League fixtures, members recognize the profound impact that any non-fulfillment of UEFA fixtures will have on Irish football and its future development.”
The FAI board also explained its reasons for not boycotting the September 27 and October 4 games.
“Having considered all the available information and the results of the impasse, the Board has concluded that refusing to play these fixtures would cause significant and long-lasting damage to Irish football, with no indication that such action would result in any change to Israel’s participation in UEFA competitions,” the letter said.
Both matches are scheduled to be played at neutral venues.
Debrecen in Hungary will host Israel’s home game on October 27.
The Republic of Ireland’s home match will be played behind closed doors at Baca Topola in Serbia after UEFA approved a request by the FAI due to “operational issues” in staging the game in Dublin.
In a letter to members, the FAI board indicated it respected alternative views on whether the matches should be played but said a boycott would “result in UEFA disciplinary proceedings” that would include automatic forfeiture of six points, loss of income and possible disqualification from the competition.
The letter claims that not playing the games could lead to relegation from the Nations League and affect qualification for future World Cups and European Championships.
The FAI also estimated a financial loss of €10.3m which would reduce investment at every level of the game from the grassroots upwards.
The letter said a boycott would set a precedent for all other Ireland teams, men and women of all ages, if they were drawn against Israel.
It also read: “The association will continue to represent the views of its members, as it brought a proposal to the UEFA Executive Committee from its members calling for the suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competition.”
On October 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched an operation in Gaza in response to an unprecedented Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 73,035 people, including more than 21,280 children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are seen as reliable by the United Nations.
