Irish Sport for Palestine has said it is “disappointed” after an FAI vote confirmed that Ireland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel will go ahead.
The Football Association of Ireland’s General Assembly voted in favour of fulfilling its UEFA obligations during an Extraordinary General Meeting in Dublin on Thursday night.
A total of 75 delegates voted in favour of the motion, with 32 voting against and three abstentions. The result means the FAI board’s decision to proceed with the fixtures was endorsed by members.
The motion asked delegates to recognise the “strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine” while also acknowledging the potential impact that withdrawing from UEFA fixtures would have on Irish football.
It stated that members recognised “the profound impact that any non-fulfilment of UEFA fixtures would have on Irish football as a whole and on its future development” and therefore supported the association fulfilling its obligations.
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Ireland are scheduled to face Israel in the UEFA Nations League this autumn, with the away fixture taking place in Debrecen, Hungary, on September 27 before the return match on October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia.
Following the vote, the FAI board thanked members of the General Assembly for supporting its position.
The association said it understood and respected the views expressed by players, staff, supporters, campaigners, members of the public and the wider Irish football community regarding the fixtures.
“The Association will continue to liaise with various stakeholders and support the Ireland squad for its upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign,” the FAI said in a statement.
FAI CEO David Courell said the governing body had been proactive in taking a position on Israel’s involvement in international football, but said the outcome of the Nations League draw left the association facing a difficult decision.
“The FAI is the only member association of UEFA that proactively took a formal position with regards to Israel's involvement in international football,” he said.
Mr Courell said the decision on whether to fulfil the fixtures had been consistent with the FAI board’s previous position.
“The board have been consistent that these games will be fulfilled and I know that's difficult,” he said.
He added that the association had hoped the matches would be played in Ireland but said UEFA’s decision meant that was no longer possible.
“We have always aspired to play the fixtures at home. We do not want to cede home advantage. It's important for the team, it's important for the fans, it's important for the association but ultimately that decision corresponded as well and we are now where we are.”
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Following the vote, campaign group Irish Sport for Palestine, which has led the Stop the Game campaign calling for the fixtures not to proceed, criticised the decision.
The group described the outcome as a “disappointing indictment of the Football Association of Ireland” and said it did not represent the views of the Irish public or professional players.
“We respect the secret ballot. However, serious questions remain about how this vote was brought forward,” the group said.
Irish Sport for Palestine also raised concerns over the handling of the process, including the decision to reject an initial request for debate, the wording of the motion, and what it described as a misrepresentation of the Professional Footballers’ Association Ireland’s position.
The group said it would seek further clarity on the governance issues surrounding the vote.
“This is a football-led, grassroots campaign and it continues,” Irish Sport for Palestine said.
The Ireland squad will now prepare for the Nations League meetings with Israel, with the FAI confirming it will continue working with stakeholders ahead of the fixtures.
