Sports minister says he has ‘no regrets’ over handling of Ireland-Israel games

The sports minister said intervening in the FAI’s decision could have led to criticism that he was interfering with an independent sporting body

Sports minister Patrick O'Donovan: 'The alternative is that they don't play and they're kicked out, and that there are severe penalties.'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Sports minister Patrick O’Donovan has said he has full confidence in the Football Association of Ireland management and board over its handling of the fixtures against Israel.

Mr O’Donovan said he has “no regrets” about how he handled the situation, arguing that he would have been criticised if he had intervened or attempted to influence the association’s decision about the matches.

The Republic of Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in the first of their two Nations League clashes, with the second game due to be played on Sunday.

There were calls for the game not to proceed in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

TDs and senators will be told on Wednesday that Ireland's participation in the two matches against Israel is being done in “the interests of Irish football as a whole”.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will appear before the Oireachtas Sports Committee.

It follows uncertainty last weekend about whether the match would go ahead, with a lengthy team meeting and a vote about whether to fulfil the fixture taking place. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu later withdrew from selection contention.

O’Donovan backs FAI board

Ahead of the FAI’s Oireachtas appearance, Mr O’Donovan expressed full confidence in the association’s board and management.

He argued that the FAI and the players had to walk an “excruciatingly difficult line in the last couple of months.

“[The FAI] attempted to get the rules changed by UEFA. That was voted down. The alternative is that they leave.

“The alternative is that they don't play and they're kicked out, and that there are severe penalties.

“I have posed this question to people in opposition who say that more should have been done. Are these people now saying, for instance, that Ireland should not participate in the next Olympic Games because we're getting into an Olympic cycle in 2027, and I'd be looking for money from [public expenditure] minister [Jack] Chambers for that?

“Are they also saying that Ireland shouldn't host Euro 2028 because it's a UEFA supported event? There's a lot of speaking out of both sides of your mouth from the opposition here.”

Mr O’Donovan said that the FAI “attempted to get this matter resolved” when it called for Israel and Ireland to be separated in fixture draws.

He argued that the FAI has been “haunted” by previous scandals, including financial scandals, but that in this instance he would not believe there was an “alternative avenue available to them”.

Mr O’Donovan said that “of course” he has confidence in the FAI board, arguing that it had “inherited a basket case in terms of its finances and governance, and they've had to do an extraordinarily difficult job”.

Questions over sanctions

The minister also defended the FAI’s lack of knowledge about what financial penalty might be applied to them for not playing the game, stating that “sanctions don't become apparent until the sin is committed”.

When asked about the welfare of the players who had to choose whether or not to play the game, Mr O’Donovan said it was a “good question, but it is a question for the FAI”.

“I don't run the FAI, and if I did, you would be telling me that I'm overstepping my reach and that I'm impinging on an independent national governing body's ability to select a sports team,” he continued.

“When I had the audacity there recently to test the water with regard to balance of broadcasters and balance of journalists, I think people were levitating up and down.”