The national soccer team of Ireland is experiencing increasing demands to avoid participating in its upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel. “Stop the Game” protests are urging both players and officials to sideline these fixtures. Ireland, known for its strong stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza and its formal recognition of Palestine in 2024, is set to face Israel twice in UEFA’s competitions. Criticism comes from Israel, accusing the Irish government of harboring “extreme anti-Israel policies.”
The games are scheduled for September 27, on neutral ground in Debrecen, Hungary, considering Israel as the “home” team, and October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia, with Ireland being the designated “home” side. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has announced they will not provide tickets for Irish supporters at either venue, citing “operational challenges and safety and security concerns.” Only a limited number of Israeli supporters will have access to the September match.
Pressure to boycott these games is escalating, involving athletes, former internationals, and pro-Palestinian activists. Demonstrators, draped in Palestinian flags, gathered outside the CastleKnock Hotel in Dublin, the team’s accommodation, earlier this week. Moreover, more than 160 athletes signed an open letter, penned by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group, urging Ireland’s national soccer team to collectively refuse participation in the games against Israel.
Among the campaigners is Ireland’s coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, who accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. However, Hallgrimsson defended the decision to proceed with the matches, stating, “We’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide.” Israel firmly denies that its military actions amount to genocide, a stance supported by President Donald Trump’s administration. Before the International Court of Justice, where it faces a genocide lawsuit by South Africa, Israel argued, “Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the civilian population,” describing it as a “war of defense against Hamas, not against the Palestinian people.”
Israel FA’s Reaction to Hallgrimsson
Hallgrimsson, originally from Iceland, made his controversial comments about playing against genocide when announcing his team in Dublin on September 17. “Without naming individuals, none of us are comfortable about these games, but since we decided to participate, we play together as one,” he remarked. “We’re playing against Israel, not with them.”
In response, Israel FA criticized Hallgrimsson on X, stating they contribute globally across numerous fields and noted: “Unfortunately, we have not found a cure for stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy displayed by [Ireland’s] team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy, and stupidity, but against the coach who represents them.”
Israeli sports outlet Sport 5 reported Israel FA Chairman Shino Zuaretz is contemplating filing a complaint to UEFA regarding Hallgrimsson’s remarks. “It’s impossible for someone to say ‘genocide’ against us without response,” stated association officials in Israel. Israel FA will decide on proceeding with the complaint post matches.
FAI’s Stand on Boycott
FAI’s Chief Executive David Courell acknowledged the “strong sentiment against Ireland playing the games,” characterizing it as “tangible” during an interview with RTÉ. “We face a challenging position, drawn for the qualification group, yet compounded by the association taking a strong public stance with UEFA,” he noted.
“We often remain silent on this, as Heimir said, we’re playing against Israel, not with them. There is a distinction, and we support change at an institutional level over individual boycotts,” he added.
Some boycott critics question Israel’s singling out while Irish teams compete with nations accused of human rights abuses. During a parliament debate in June, former justice minister Alan Shatter highlighted ties with Afghanistan and Qatar, critiquing the lack of protest over these countries. “Afghanistan under the Taliban is dreadful, with no protest over the cricket matches,” Shatter noted. “And Qatar recently played at Aviva Stadium with protests focused on Israel, not Qatar.”
While playing Qatar on May 28 received protests related to Israel, Ireland’s cricket match against Afghanistan in August did not witness “significant protests” despite the Taliban’s repression of women’s rights. The political rift between Ireland and Israel grew since the Gaza conflict. Following Ireland’s recognition of Palestine, it joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Ireland’s actions led to the closure of Israel’s Dublin embassy in December 2024. “Ireland’s antisemitic rhetoric and actions against Israel stem from delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state,” noted Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, as relations strained beyond repair.