Republic of Ireland v Israel: Playing fixtures an 'uncomfortable situation for everyone'

Football Association of Ireland [FAI] Director of Football John Martin says the decision to play the Uefa Nations League games against Israel is a "very uncomfortable situation for everyone".

Both games are scheduled for neutral venues with Israel's 'home' game set for 27 September in Debrecen, Hungary and the reverse fixture in Backa Topola, Serbia on 4 October, with the FAI confirming their 'home' tie will be played behind closed doors and no tickets available for Irish fans for their 'away' game.

At an extraordinary general meeting in July, delegates backed an FAI motion to proceed with the games with 75 votes in favour to 32 against with three abstentions amid concerns that boycotting the fixtures would cause "significant and lasting harm" for the association.

However, the decision has come under increasing pressure with a 'Stop The Game' campaign launched by Irish Sport for Palestine calling for a boycott.

The campaign has received support from some key figures including former manager Brian Kerr and ex-player James McClean while May's friendly against Qatar was twice disrupted with tennis balls thrown onto the pitch.

Israel has regularly denied committing genocide or war crimes and has said its actions in Gaza have been justified as a means of self-defence.

On Monday, Martin accepted the situation is "really difficult" but insists the players "shouldn't be in a position where they get criticised".

"The decision shouldn't fall on the players because it wasn't a players' decision - it was a decision by the association, by the board, the executive. People like me, [FAI CEO] David Courell made the decision, not the players," Martin told RTE Sport.

"The association has been on record saying we don't want to be playing these games. I don't want to play the games but for that to impact Irish football, that's where I would disagree with some of the voices saying we shouldn't play the game.

"I agree with the vast majority of what people are saying, but the aspect of not playing the game is where we have a difference of opinion.

"I think it's [best] for Irish football we go and play the game."

In May, defender Seamus Coleman says a decision to play the games "should not have landed on our [players] toes", while captain Nathan Collins insisted "we are not going to stand against" any player who opts out of the Israel fixtures.

"It's a personal choice for the player," Martin continued.

"We have a fantastic manager and person in Heimir [Hallgrimsson] who will manage that, but at all stages we must mind the player.

"It should be a player-centre world we are in, we are always mindful of the physical environment the player is in and we need to protect them as much as possible.

"It's going to be very difficult because it does fall on them because they are on the pitch, but I would hope people can see they are following the decision the association took as opposed to putting them at the centre of this."

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