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Taoiseach Michel Martin questions FAI and FIFA over venue switch for Israel game

Ireland are due to play Israel in a home Nations League fixture at the Aviva Stadium on October 4

[Taoiseach Micheal Martin]

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Irish premier Michel Martin has said it was not an ideal situation either way amid reports the Ireland-Israel match in October could be moved to a neutral venue as he called on FIFA to deal with this more comprehensively.

The remarks followed the Football Association of Ireland releasing a statement on Monday confirming its board was continuing to convene to "discuss the operational aspects" of staging the men's international Nations League football fixture, scheduled for Dublin's Aviva Stadium on October 4.

The FAI stated it was also in discussions with European football's governing body Uefa on the matter and confirmed a further statement would be released following the board's next meeting on Thursday.

With the likelihood of significant demonstrations surrounding the game and growing demands for a boycott of the fixture due to Israel's continuing military action in the Middle East, there is conjecture the FAI may attempt to have the game staged in another European nation.

Sinn Fin and the Social Democrats are putting forward separate motions in the Dil this week demanding the game be cancelled.

In reaction to suggestions the fixture might be moved away from Ireland, both parties made it plain on Monday evening that relocating the venue was insufficient, and the match should not take place whatsoever.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Taoiseach Martin said it was an exceptional situation due to the conflict in the Middle East and added that we dont want sport embroiled in political situations.

In terms of the soccer fixture, its always been my view that the Irish football team has made a lot of progress in the last while, he said at Government Buildings on Tuesday.

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Fans protest an upcoming match between Republic of Ireland and Israel

Fifa really should determine and deal with these issues, because its putting countries involved under a lot of pressure, and the players under a lot of pressure, given what is happening, but theres a real concern that if the Irish team doesnt fulfil the fixture, that you damage Irish football for some time to come, and thats not a good outcome either.

In many respects, its not an ideal situation either way and I think Fifa needs to deal with this more comprehensively than it has to date.

Speaking on the Monday With Gavan Reilly programme on Virgin Media, the Tnaiste Simon Harris stated the decision was neither a matter for the players nor for government. He said the responsibility rested with the FAI. "This is nothing to do with the players, and there should be no pressure applied to the players who play with distinction wearing our national jersey let's all agree on that," he said.

"Secondly, though, it's not a matter for the Government. And that's not just my view, it's a legal, factual view. The FAI board, as recently as this evening, and their statement ... have made it very clear that it is a matter solely for the FAI.

"So I respect, obviously, the work of the Oireachtas. People can table whatever motions they want, but a vote in Dil ireann will not have any impact here.

"What will, though, is a decision by the FAI board, and I really encourage the FAI to come to that decision this week to bring clarity to the matter. This shouldn't drag on and on. So, I hope this week will, for once and for all, see clarity in relation to this."

Mr Harris dismissed any notion that relocating the fixture would harm Ireland's standing internationally or offer ammunition to detractors who have already labelled the nation's stance towards Israel as antisemitic.

[Tanaiste Simon Harris]

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Tanaiste Simon Harris(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

"Antisemitism is a scourge, it's a disgusting scourge, and we must all, in every country, do everything we possibly can to tackle it to tackle it and to address it," he said.

"And I've met many members of the Jewish community in Ireland in relation to that, and we need to continue to do more as a country, as a European Union, as a world in relation to that.

"We always need to be very careful to differentiate between the actions of a government and citizens.

"No citizen is accountable for the actions of their government, and I'm sure there's many, many, many people in Israel who are disgusted by the actions of the Israeli government too. And I think it's always important we differentiate.

"But, in relation to soccer, the rules are very clear the FAI board needs to make a decision, and I think they should do that this week."

In a statement released on Monday, the FAI said: "In response to the high volume of media queries related to the topic of our upcoming Uefa Nations League fixtures versus Israel, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) can confirm that the board of the FAI continue to meet to discuss the operational aspects of hosting the home fixture, alongside ongoing discussions with Uefa.

"The FAI will not be releasing a statement on any decision on this matter until after the board meeting scheduled for June 11, due to the hugely significant game taking place on Tuesday for our Ireland Women's National Team, where a victory against France will secure direct qualification for a second successive Fifa Women's World Cup, which would be a landmark moment for the team and Irish sport.

"The association reiterates that it is the responsibility of the board of the FAI to protect the future interests of football in Ireland. Any decision around the game is solely a matter for the association." Sinn Fin president Mary Lou McDonald maintained that the location of the fixture was not the central concern.

Taking to social media, she wrote: "Ireland must not play Israel at any venue moving the game doesn't address the reality that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people."

Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney also called for the match to be cancelled entirely.

"Moving the fixture to another country, possibly Hungary, is an attempt to brush this controversy under the rug and will deny people in Ireland an opportunity to engage in peaceful protest," she said.

"What's at stake here is far bigger than a football match. Israel is engaged in a genocide in Palestine and ethnic cleansing in Lebanon.

"Ireland should not be facilitating the sportswashing of a rogue nation which has been committing war crimes for nearly three years.

"I am also very concerned about the pressure that this decision will put on the players, and I would again appeal to the Government and the FAI to intervene."

The Israeli government has consistently denied accusations that its military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide, while also defending its operations in Lebanon.

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