Overview
- Thursday’s Nations League match in Dublin was stopped twice when about 30 tennis balls wrapped in Palestinian‑flag stickers were thrown onto the pitch and a man ran onto the field waving a Palestinian flag.
- The game resumed after brief delays and finished in a 2–2 draw.
- The 'Stop the Game' campaign claimed responsibility for the tennis‑ball action and said the protest was a show of solidarity with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who withdrew from the Ireland squad on ethical grounds.
- The disruptions follow recent player debate and a decision by a significant majority of the squad to play Israel, a first leg Ireland won 3–0 in Debrecen with players wearing black armbands and avoiding customary exchanges.
- The FAI has moved the return Ireland–Israel fixture to Bačka Topola, Serbia behind closed doors because of security and operational concerns, and the protests, reduced broadcast coverage, and public demonstrations raise the risk of further disruption and political fallout.