The Republic of Ireland's upcoming Nations League fixture with Israel has been relocated from Dublin to Serbia due to mounting pressure to boycott the match. The game, previously scheduled for 4 October at the Aviva Stadium, will now take place at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola and will be played behind closed doors.
The decision to move the fixture comes after protests took place outside the Irish parliament, Dail, with a 'Stop the Game' campaign launched by the group Irish Sport for Palestine. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had initially confirmed the game would be played away from Dublin after UEFA approved a request to move the fixture to a neutral venue.
In a statement, the FAI highlighted the potential consequences of pulling out of the matches, including the forfeiture of six points which could lead to relegation to League C in the Nations League and an impact on the team's UEFA and FIFA rankings. The FAI also noted that Israel's chances of Nations League promotion and Euro 2028 qualification could be increased if the Republic of Ireland were to forfeit the fixtures.
The move has been met with a mixed reaction, with the Palestine FA releasing a statement clarifying that it had not issued any statement endorsing or supporting the decision to proceed with the match. The statement also acknowledged the Palestinian people's right to protest and express their opinions on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military's actions in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack in 2023 have resulted in significant loss of life, with at least 73,035 people killed, including over 21,280 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.