Ireland v Israel football match to be held at neutral venue amid protest fears

UEFA has approved a request to hold a football match between Ireland and Israel at a neutral venue behind closed doors, following protest fears.

The decision to move the match from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin comes amid the prospect of major demonstrations around the Nations League fixture on 4 October because of Israel's military operations in the Middle East.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said: "Operational challenges could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil, so the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium.

"The Association understands and respects the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, its members, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community in relation to this fixture."

It said the Palestinian Football Association had expressed its "appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes".

Some Irish ​footballers, fans and celebrities had launched a campaign calling for a boycott of the game. The FAI said it was "deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza".

It added that it continued to "reflect the sentiment" of a motion of its general assembly last year to issue a formal request to the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from its competitions.

The association recognised that if it did not fulfil the fixtures with Israel, the immediate result would be the forfeiture of six points which could lead to relegation to League C in the Nations League and weaken its qualifying potential for Euro 2028.

It would also impact on Ireland's UEFA and FIFA rankings, which could affect future qualification to European Championships and World Cups.

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It pointed out the "converse" would apply for Israel, increasing its prospects of promotion.

Ireland has been one of the European Union's most outspoken critics of Israel's war in ⁠Gaza, and FAI members voted overwhelmingly in late 2025 ​for its board to request that UEFA immediately ​suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions.

Nearly 73,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the war began, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel launched its action ‌after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 Israeli and foreign hostages on 7 October, 2023.

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