The Republic of Ireland's upcoming Nations League match against Israel will be played at a neutral venue behind closed doors, following widespread protests over the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties in the Gaza war.
Background of the protests
Ireland was originally scheduled to host Israel at the Aviva Stadium on 4 October, while a 27 September fixture designated as an Israel home match is also expected to be moved to a neutral location. However, Irish footballers, fans, and celebrities launched a campaign calling for a boycott of the game.
During a recent friendly win over Qatar in Dublin, the match was twice briefly disrupted by fans protesting against the upcoming fixtures with Israel.
FAI's decision
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) released a statement explaining the decision: "Following consultation with various stakeholders, the association is of the view that operational challenges could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil, so the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium."
Political and institutional reactions
Ireland has been one of the European Union's most outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza. In late 2025, FAI members voted overwhelmingly for its board to request that Uefa immediately suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions.
United Nations experts have appealed to Fifa and Uefa to suspend Israel from international football, citing a UN commission of inquiry report that said Israel had committed genocide during the war in Gaza. Israel has denied committing genocide and described the report as scandalous.
Support for Palestinian football
The FAI statement noted that the Palestinian Football Association had "expressed its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes."
Nearly 73,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the war began, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
