FAI accused of a 'cop out' by moving Israel fixture overseas

St Patrick's Athletic supporters hold up a sign reading "'how Israel The Red Card' during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The FAI has been accused of a "cop out" by moving its home men's fixture against Israel to another country, but the sports minister has hit out at "anonymous trolls" putting pressure on players.

The association has confirmed Uefa has approved holding the Nations League fixture with Israel on October 4 behind closed doors in a neutral venue overseas.

Campaigners and opposition politicians demanded an overall boycott of the match, as well as the away game scheduled for September 27. 

The FAI announcement on Friday was called "the mother of all betrayals of our players by the FAI" by the StopTheGame campaign, "cowardly" by Sinn Féin, and "a cop out" by the Labour Party.

However, minister for sport Patrick O'Donovan said there is a "rules-based system" in place and any boycott risked costing Ireland's footballers points and ranking places. 

He also called for politicians to "back off" from the issue.

"Players and management are not like commentators [or fans]," he said.

"They have a role to play and they have signed up to this to play for the country, and the rules are laid down by Fifa and Uefa. So they need to be left alone, and they particularly need to be left alone by anonymous trolls online."

Mr O'Donovan said that he would "not tell players" what to do, but said that giving Israel six points would be "rewarding that team, ironically".

"The rules are laid down, and the decision has been made by Uefa, and the FAI have to have respect for that, and they've sought and received the ability to be able to move to a third place for the hosting of it."

He appealed "to my colleagues in politics, especially, to back off and leave this issue where the FAI have managed to get it to".

Mr O'Donovan also said he as a minister could not direct the FAI to make a decision or to decide whether RTÉ should broadcast the game. 

RTÉ has said that it has a contractual obligation to show the game. 

However, Mr O'Donovan said that he did not believe the FAI had been "bullied" into a decision, saying that description was "severe".

In a statement, the FAI said the game was being moved following "consultation with various stakeholders" and that it was "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".

It said 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”.

The FAI said it is “deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza”, adding that it continues to “reflect the sentiment” of a motion of its General Assembly last year to issue a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from its competitions.

The StopTheGame campaign said its members around the country are ‘hopping with rage on behalf of our players’ – and vowed to step up its campaign to ensure the games do not go ahead.