Republic of Ireland to face Israel at neutral venue after boycott calls over Middle East conflict
Republic of Ireland will play Israel at a neutral venue (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire)
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed that the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League match against Israel will be relocated to a neutral venue and played behind closed doors.
The fixture, originally scheduled for 4 October at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, received approval from UEFA for its relocation.
The FAI cited “operational challenges” that could impact the game’s delivery on home soil as the reason for moving it away from the Aviva Stadium.
This decision comes amid growing calls within Ireland for a boycott of the game due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, following previous protests during a friendly match against Qatar.
Israel’s home match against the Republic of Ireland, scheduled for a week earlier, is also set to take place at a neutral location.
