Ireland’s Gaza stance spills from Eurovision into football

Ireland's stance on the Gaza conflict has spilled over from the Eurovision Song Contest to football matches, with the country's strong support for the Palestinian cause influencing its sporting and cultural calendar. The Irish Football Association (FAI) has declined to provide tickets to Irish supporters for a football match between Ireland and Israel in Hungary on Sunday, citing protests and calls for a boycott over Israel's war in Gaza.

The match is being staged in Debrecen, Hungary, due to Israel's inability to host international matches. The reverse fixture was moved from Dublin to Backa Topola, Serbia, and will take place behind closed doors. RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster, will not broadcast the match, providing only a silent commentary to fulfill contractual obligations.

This decision reflects the intense pushback from the Irish public and some of its own staff, who view it as a moral compromise. Research shows that 53% of Irish adults sympathize more with Palestinians, a figure higher than in any other western European country. The conflict has also sparked outrage among some Irish sportspeople and politicians, with Taoiseach Micheal Martin condemning comments made by Israel's football federation.

However, former Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter has rejected the boycott campaign, arguing that the FAI should have staged the fixture in Dublin with police protection.