Jack Anderson: The FAI’s decision to play Israel raises questions that go far beyond football

The FAI’s decision to fulfil its Israel fixtures has financial and sporting consequences, but Anderson questions how those risks were assessed

Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson, and Finn Azaz, after defeat in Kosovo. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

There was little need this week for an algorithm to place the Israel game to the fore of your social media feed. It was already there.

Although it’s “only” a game, the debate about Sunday’s match has much wider ethical, moral political connotations. It’s a fiction to think that international sport is politically neutral. Political friction is often the story of international sport, as Ireland’s opponents on Thursday night, Kosovo, can attest.