The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has announced its intention to relocate the upcoming home UEFA Nations League match against Israel from Dublin to a neutral venue, pending approval from UEFA.
The game, scheduled for October 4, is expected to move from the Aviva Stadium to a neutral ground, with Budapest, Hungary considered a likely alternative, according to RTÉ Sport.
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The decision follows intense domestic pressure and widespread public calls for a boycott of the fixtures due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The FAI board held consecutive meetings to determine operational logistics and engaged in discussions with UEFA before opting to delay an official statement until after its next board meeting on June 11.
"The association reiterates that it is the responsibility of the board of the FAI to protect the future interests of football in Ireland," the FAI stated in a media release, emphasizing that outside pressures would not dictate its operational choices.
Political Reactions
Irish government officials and political parties expressed diverging views.
Opposition groups tabled motions in the Dáil demanding a total cancellation of the matches rather than a venue alteration.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said, "Our motion supports the Stop the Game campaign - the call is quite clear for the game not to proceed in Ireland or anywhere."
McDonald insisted that moving the match failed to address core ethical issues.
"There is no support for our national team to play, under our tricolour, against Israel while there is a genocide ongoing," she said.
