Protests in Ireland and Qatar halt matches against Israel teams

Republic of Ireland to Face Israel Twice in UEFA Nations League Matches

The Republic of Ireland is set to face Israel twice in upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, according to the competition schedule. The fixtures have sparked controversy, with some calling for a boycott of the games.

On Thursday, an international friendly match between Qatar and the Irish was halted due to protests by home fans against their side’s upcoming fixtures against Israel. Tennis balls covered in images of the Palestinian flag were thrown onto the field, causing play to be suspended.

The Irish parliament saw new protests on Wednesday over the Israel fixtures, while the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had previously requested that UEFA suspend Israel from international competition. However, UEFA did not support this request.

In a pre-match news conference ahead of the Qatar fixture, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson challenged his players to “win this war” against Israel. The Icelander has also expressed support for calls to ban Israel from international football.

The first match between the sides will be played at a neutral venue on September 27, while the return encounter will take place in Dublin on October 4. Both matches are scheduled to proceed as planned.

The UEFA Nations League is a standalone competition that progresses through group stages and knockouts, with a final. The competition also serves as part of a qualification opportunity for sides participating in UEFA and FIFA tournaments.

Source: Al Jazeera