Breaking: FAI motion to progress with Israel games passed at EGM

Both sides of the argument were given an opportunity to speak during the hour-long debate. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The FAI’s motion to progress with the Uefa Nations League matches against Israel was passed at an EGM by 75 votes to 32 – equating to 68%.

Delegates at the meeting – a hybrid of in-person at Lansdowne Road and remote - were asked to vote on the following motion, which was different to the wording submitted by a collective of five General Assembly members.

While acknowledging the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine and the upcoming UEFA Men's Nations League fixtures, that the members recognise the profound impact that any non-fulfilment of UEFA fixtures would have on Irish football as a whole and on its future development, and accordingly endorses the Association fulfilling its obligations in respect of those fixtures.

FAI President Paul Cooke said: “Over two-thirds of the football community are supporting the board’s decision.

“I would say that the Egm was conducted in respectful and dignified matter – everybody who wanted to speak got an opportunity to do so.

“There were common themes that we a board can take away to deal with the issues in Middle-East.

“Football is a democracy so we can’t do anything else that happen in the future.” 

 Chief executive David Courell added: “Unfortunately the draw put us in the invidious position of making this difficult decision. We aspired to play game at home – that’s important for everybody, the team, players and supporters – but we are where we are.”

The EGM was preceded by a protest at the tunnel entrance of the stadium. Around 100 supporters gathered, displaying banners, Palestinian flags and chanting Stop The Game as passing cars beeped their horns in approval.

Both sides of the argument were given an opportunity to speak during the hour-long debate. 

All four co-proposers, Bohemians, PFAI, Irish supporters partnership and CK (Carlow Kilkenny) United aired their concerns over the matches proceedings, highlighting the United Nations finding of genocide against Israel and their flagrant breaches of Fifa and Uefa statutes.

Their proposal was specific in seeking a boycott of both fixtures - rather than neutral territory - but it was deemed invalid due to queries over the status of the signatories.

Against that, Pat Kelly (Waterford), Andrea Clarke (Athlone Town), Derek Moore (Leinster FA) along with FAI board members Caroline Rhatigan and Packie Bonner spoke in favour.

During the discussion, a supporter of the motion raised a scenario whereby a League of Ireland representative in European competition drew Israeli opposition. Bohemians immediately replied that they would boycott any such fixture – an unprecedented step across the three competitions.

More to follow…