The Republic of Ireland's home Nations League fixture with Israel has been moved to a neutral venue. behind closed doors
Palestine's Football Association (PFA) has said it does not endorse the Republic of Ireland's Nations League game with Israel being moved to a neutral venue.
On Friday. it was confirmed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) that the fixture would be played away from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 4 October after Uefa granted approval for the game to be played behind closed doors at a neutral venue.
Pressure to boycott the fixture has built as protests took place outside the Dail (Irish parliament). while May's friendly with Qatar was twice disrupted when tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag were thrown onto the pitch.
A 'Stop the Game' campaign has also been launched by the group Irish Sport for Palestine.
When confirming the game had been moved,the FAI quoted a statement from the Palestine FAsaying. it "affirms its respect for the decision" made by the FAI to move the game to a neutral venue.
"The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people. Palestinian athletes," the FAI quoted the Palestine FA as saying.
"The Palestinian Football Association also affirms its respect for the decision made by the Football Association of Ireland within the framework of its sporting. international obligations, in a manner that enables it to continue fulfilling its noble mission of serving football and promoting the values of justice, solidarity, and mutual respect."
However. the Palestine FA said on Thursday that it "wished to clarify" that it has not issued any statement "endorsing, approving or supporting the decision to proceed with the match".
"Any interpretation suggesting the PFA has given its blessing to the fixture does not accurately reflect our position," it said.
Republic of Ireland v Israel to be played at neutral venue
Despite having faced calls to boycott the games. the FAI insisted it will fulfil the fixtures as pulling out of the matches would have "a profound impact on the whole of Irish football".
It said the result of not fulfilling the games would be the forfeiture of six points which could lead to relegation to League C in the Nations League. an impact on the team's Uefa and Fifa rankings, highlighting "the converse of these impacts would apply to Israel", increasing their chances of Nations League promotion and Euro 2028 qualification.
In Thursday's statement, the Palestine FA added it had "long-standing principle" of respecting that each association can make its own decisions, but reiterated it does not endorse the game being played. said "our position regarding Israeli football remains unchanged and unequivocal".
"While the PFA respects the right of every association to determine how it navigates its own sporting, legal,. regulatory obligations, such respect should not be misconstrued as endorsement of any particular decision," it added.
In a Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 about 1,200 people were killed and 251 abducted to Gaza.
More than 70,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then. according to the Hamas-run health ministry - with more than 1,000 Palestinians reported killed in the West Bank.
The Palestine FA said it "continues to pursue accountability through Fifa. other international sporting bodies for Israel's persistent violations of Fifa statutes", stating that athletes had been killed in the conflict and sporting infrastructure had also been destroyed, as well as the "devastating impact of Israel's war on all aspects of Palestinian life".
It added: "The PFA rejects any characterisation. could be interpreted as providing political or moral cover for Israel's continued participation in international football while these grave violations persist.
"The PFA would not,. will not, be party to any effort that normalises these realities or contributes to the sportswashing of crimes committed against the Palestinian people."
Israel. the Republic of Ireland are also scheduled to meet at a neutral venue for Israel's home Group B3 match on 27 September.
The Football Association of Ireland has been contacted for comment.
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.