FAI insist any Nations League fixture against Israel will be fulfilled
The draw for the Nations League takes place in Brussels on Thursday with the competition kicking off in September. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Ireland have a 25% chance of drawing Israel in Thursdayâs Uefa Nations League and the FAI have reiterated their plans to fulfil the two fixtures.
Although the FAI delegates passed a motion in November requesting Uefa to ban Israeli international and club teams from all European competitions on foot of violations, fears of repercussions from boycotting games have framed internal policy.
âStraight off the bat, we would play them, provided it was part of a Uefa competition," affirmed FAI President Paul Cooke in December, a position he reinforced at Tuesday nightâs meeting with members.
Cooke outlined that a refusal to participate in competitive games on grounds of protest could risk the FAI being suspended from the Nations League.
A UN Commission of Inquiry report found that said Israel had committed genocide during the war in Gaza and the motion highlighted two breaches of Uefa laws, violations which Israel dispute.
Ireland manager Heimir HallgrĂmsson, who will attend the draw in Brussels, spoke publicly about the matter in October, questioning why Israel were allowed by Uefa and Fifa to remain in competitions when the governing bodies were so swift to ban Russia four years ago.
Uefaâs executive committee will meet before the draw but they have failed to act on the FAIâs proposal.
Delegates, including Bohemians who tabled the suspension proposal, were informed of Uefaâs stance via the FAI.
âUefa acknowledged receipt (November 27) and subsequently responded by letter (December 16).
âIn that response, Uefa confirmed that the matter has been duly noted, they also referred to an earlier decision of the Uefa Executive Committee of October 19 such that no Uefa competition matches shall be played on the territory of Israel until further notice, citing safety and security considerations.
âUefa have also stated that the situation continues to be closely monitored on an ongoing basis.
âIn relation to the question of suspension or exclusion of member associations, Uefa referred to the existing provisions of its Statutes, specifically Article 9 (suspension) and Article 8 paragraph 3 (exclusion), noting that these articles provide the legal and procedural framework for such decisions, which are considered on a case-by-case basis.
âUefa also reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, integrity and equal treatment across all member associations.
âMembers will be kept informed should there be any further engagement or developments with Uefa.âÂ
Due to the hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank, Israel were ordered to stage their fixtures on neutral soil. Their 2026 World Cup qualifiers were held in the Hungarian city of Debrecen.
Ireland, in the second pot of League B nations, can be drawn against one of Israel, Hungary, Scotland and Poland in the series, due to kick off in September.
Pot 1: Portugal, Spain, France, Germany.
Pot 2: Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia.
Pot 3: Serbia, Belgium, England, Norway.
Pot 4: Wales, Czech Republic, Greece, TurkeyÂ
Pot 1: Scotland, Hungary, Poland, IsraelÂ
Pot 2: Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, UkraineÂ
Pot 3: Slovenia, Georgia, Republic of Ireland, RomaniaÂ
Pot 4: Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, KosovoÂ
Pot 1: Iceland, Albania, Montenegro, KazakhstanÂ
Pot 2: Finland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, ArmeniaÂ
Pot 3: Belarus, Faroe Islands, Cyprus, EstoniaÂ
Pot 4: Latvia or Gibraltar, Luxembourg or Malta, Moldova, San MarinoÂ
Pot 1: Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Gibraltar or Latvia, Malta or LuxembourgÂ
Pot 2: Liechtenstein, AndorraÂ
Matchday 1: September 24th-26th; Matchday 2: September 27th-29th; Matchday 3: September 30th-October 3rd; Matchday 4: October 4th-6th; Matchday 5: November 12th-14th; Matchday 6: November 15th-17th
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
