'A unilateral boycott isolates Ireland while Israel continue,' FAI board makes plea ahead of EGM

Cork City were among five members raising a motion calling on the FAI to withdraw from the games on September 27 and October 4 but their application was deemed procedurally out of order

Paul Cooke, FAI President. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

The FAI warn grassroots programmes, league grants and staffing will be impacted by the estimated €5.5m loss from Ireland boycotting the autumn Nations League games against Israel.

Cork City were among five members raising a motion calling on the FAI to withdraw from the games on September 27 and October 4 – both in neutral countries – but their application was deemed procedurally out of order.

Conversely, the sole item on next Wednesday’s EGM agenda – as revealed last week by the Irish Examiner – is to endorse the FAI’s commitment to fulfilling their entire six-match Nations League campaign.

The FAI had highlighted the football and financial consequences of boycotting the Israel matches, before and after they were drawn together in the League B draw on February 7.

Now, they’ve armed the 145 delegates with an information pack ahead of the ballot.

However, even if the motion is defeated by the simple majority, the outcome is non-binding on a board who are the ultimate arbiter on this issue under the current FAI constitution.

A Deliveroo rider passes the new Lamine Yamal mural outside Bohemians' Dalymount Park, which features the Barcelona star with a Palestinian flag and the words "stop the game", referencing calls to halt the Ireland v Israel European Nations League fixture. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

On top of the relegation risk to League C posed by ceding six points to Israel, they cite broadcasting income and participation losses.

Cumulatively, they forecast the €5.5m doubling from a decline in the men’s team fortunes, without furnishing a specific breakdown of items.

As they highlight in their plea: “If Ireland is not competing on the international stage, the whole game will feel it.” Collateral damage, they state, will be felt most at grassroots levels.

Across a split constituent structure, it was a curious choice of four areas immediately vulnerable to bearing the financial impact. These are grassroots grants, facilities and infrastructure support, high-performance programmes and staffing.

“Having considered all available information and the consequences of non-fulfilment, the board concluded that refusing to play these fixtures would cause significant and lasting harm to Irish football, with no indication that such action would result in any change to Israel's participation in Uefa competitions,” wrote president Paul Cooke and chairman Tony Keohane in their opening address to voters.

“The Norwegian Football Federation for example, which has been among the strongest advocates for action, has continued to pursue change through Uefa and Fifa processes rather than unilateral non-participation.” 

Next week’s ballot will be held at Lansdowne Road stadium but is open for delegates to participate and vote through an online mechanism.