Pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the Republic of Ireland's friendly match against Qatar in Dublin, throwing tennis balls onto the pitch to protest upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel. The Football Association of Ireland insists the games will proceed, citing potential UEFA sanctions, while players express discomfort at being placed in a political controversy and call for the FAI to resolve the issue.
Tennis ball pitch protest
- ▪The Republic of Ireland's friendly match against Qatar in Dublin was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests on May 28, 2026
- ▪The tennis balls thrown by protesters were decorated with the Palestinian flag and messages like "Stop the game"
- ▪Protesters also displayed a large banner reading “#StopTheGame” and chanted “Free Palestine”
- ▪The match at Aviva Stadium was stopped twice in the first half after protesters threw tennis balls onto the pitch
Ireland-Israel fixture cancellation demands
- ▪Derry city councilor Shaun Harkin compared the boycott calls to the sporting boycott of apartheid-era South Africa
- ▪The protest was against the Republic of Ireland's upcoming Nations League fixtures with Israel
- ▪The matches against Israel are scheduled for September 27 at a neutral venue and October 4 in Dublin
- ▪The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) stated the games will proceed, warning of "serious consequences" from UEFA for a boycott
- ▪The Israel Football Association responded that it will play the matches and is not interested in the "biased, hypocritical" debate in Ireland
Israeli military Gaza sports destruction
- ▪Protesters allege that since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 athletes and coaches in Gaza, including at least 421 football players
- ▪Protesters also claim that 265 sports facilities in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged during the same period
RTÉ pundit Richie Sadlier commentary
- ▪Sadlier argued that boycotting the match would be a meaningful "act," unlike what he called "ineffective and useless" statements from politicians
- ▪RTÉ pundit Richie Sadlier called it "baffling" that suggesting not playing football against Israel is considered controversial
Taoiseach Martin defends fixture
- ▪Taoiseach Micheál Martin said focusing on the football match "does not do justice to the enormity or complexity of the issue."
- ▪Social Democrats' TD Sinéad Gibney questioned if the government would support national broadcaster RTÉ in canceling its contract to broadcast the Israel fixtures
Seamus Coleman FAI responsibility statement
- ▪Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson stated it was "unfair for the players to be in this position."
- ▪Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman said the situation "should have been dealt with above us" by the FAI and UEFA
- ▪Midfielder Jamie McGrath said the players "don't want to be put into a position" and hopes the authorities can "work something out."
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