FAI warns boycott of Israel matches would cost Irish football up to €10.3m ahead of crunch EGM vote

The vote and the motion

Members of the FAI's general assembly will convene on Wednesday, 8 July, after opponents of the fixtures secured the 10 percent of signatures needed to trigger an EGM. The motion put forward by the FAI board does not directly propose a boycott; instead it asks members to endorse the association's obligation to fulfil the matches. The text acknowledges "the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine" but warns that non-fulfilment would have a "profound impact" on Irish football. The outcome is non-binding on the FAI executive, and a separate boycott motion submitted by members was ruled invalid due to questions over FAI membership rules.

Financial and competitive consequences

In a seven-page letter to delegates, FAI president Paul Cooke and chairman Tony Keohane detailed the potential fallout. A boycott would mean automatic 3-0 forfeits in both games, likely relegation to League C of the Nations League, and a direct revenue loss of €5.5m. The total cost could climb to €10.3m when lost broadcasting income and participation fees are included. The board also flagged the risk of exclusion from future UEFA and FIFA competitions at senior and underage level, and a "lasting competitive disadvantage that would severely reduce the prospects of qualifying for major tournaments for years to come."

Having considered all the available information and the consequences of non-fulfilment, the board concluded that refusing to play these fixtures would cause significant and lasting harm to Irish football, with no indication that such an action would result in any change to Israel's participation in UEFA competitions.

Neutral venues and closed doors

Both matches have already been moved away from Israel and Ireland. The away fixture on 27 September will be staged at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary. Ireland's home match on 4 October has been shifted to Bačka Topola in Serbia and will be played behind closed doors after UEFA approved an FAI request citing "operational issues" in Dublin. The relocations have not quelled calls for a boycott from players, supporters and politicians who argue that playing the games at all normalises Israel's actions in Gaza.

Protests and player pressure

The campaign against the fixtures intensified after tennis balls painted with the Palestinian flag were thrown onto the pitch during a May friendly against Qatar at the Aviva Stadium. Shamrock Rovers captain Pico Lopes wrote to the FAI saying the loss of tens of thousands of Palestinian lives "had to take precedence over any sporting consideration." The group Irish Sport for Palestine has also launched a 'Stop the Game' campaign. The FAI said it "respects the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community."

The board's case against unilateral action

The FAI pointed to the Norwegian Football Federation, which has been among the strongest advocates for action on Palestine but has continued to pursue change through UEFA and FIFA processes rather than a unilateral boycott. The board argued that a boycott would isolate Ireland while Israel continued to compete, and that the collateral damage would be felt most at grassroots level, affecting grants, facilities, high-performance programmes and staffing.