Overview
- An open letter published Wednesday by the Stop The Game campaign urged the Football Association of Ireland to refuse to play Israel in the UEFA Nations League.
- Signatories include League of Ireland captains such as Roberto Lopes, Dawson Devoy and Joe Redmond, former Ireland manager Brian Kerr, ex-international Louise Quinn, and artists like Christy Moore plus members of Fontaines DC and Kneecap.
- The FAI says legal advice leaves it obligated to play under UEFA rules, warns that forfeits could bring relegation and ranking damage, and says the home tie can be staged in Dublin after talks with the government and police.
- Ireland are scheduled to face Israel on September 27 in an Israeli home match that is expected to be moved to a neutral venue and on October 4 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
- The push comes after a 93% FAI members’ vote last November to seek Israel’s suspension, with FIFA later fining Israel’s FA without a ban and the Palestine FA appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as Ireland’s prime minister says the games should go ahead.