FAI to defend move to play Israel before committee

The FAI is to tell the Oireachtas Sports Committee how the decision to proceed with the controversial fixtures against Israel was made in the best interests of Irish football.

The CEO of the FAI David Courell and other senior figures at the Association will answer questions from TDs and Senators this afternoon with Ireland to play Israel again on Sunday in the UEFA Nations League after preparations for last weekend's fixture in Hungary were thrown into chaos at the eleventh hour.

Opposition parties have said members of the FAI leadership team should consider their positions over their handling of the games with People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger telling the Dáil yesterday how the board and CEO of the FAI should all resign.

However, in his opening address to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Mr Courell is expected to strongly defend the Association's actions.

"[The decision] was not an endorsement of Israel's participation or a dismissal of deeply held views across the country. It was a difficult institutional decision made in the interests of Irish football as a whole," Mr Courell will state.

"Our responsibility is to protect players, staff and supporters, and the programmes and structures on which football communities depend. We hope the committee understands that fulfilling these fixtures reflects our duty to safeguard the stability and sustainability of Irish football for current and future generations," he will tell TDs and Senators.

Mr Courell will say the FAI "wish we were not in this position", and that "the suffering and devastation in Gaza weigh heavily across the Association and Irish football".

The Republic of Ireland were 3-0 winners over Israel at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday with a further match planned in Backa Topola, Serbia, this coming Sunday - a game which had initially been slated for Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

In a statement, the Irish Sport for Palestine campaign, which has called for a boycott of the Israel games, said the FAI's handling of the fixtures revealed a board "that is not fit for purpose" and "an organisation that lacks accountability".

"It has confirmed what we already know - that sport is political and the FAI are complicit in maintaining politically motivated self-interests," the campaign said.

"Irish Sport for Palestine remains unequivocal in calling for the cancellation of the upcoming Nations League fixture against Israel on the 4 October. We remain absolute in our assertion that the FAI board has shown abysmal leadership and no moral compass. They must go and Irish football must boycott Israel on 4 October. Ireland will set the precedent and boycott Israel in sport, it is just a matter of when," it added.

'Nobody should feel unsafe in Irish football'

The FAI's appearance before the committee follows on from a similar appearance last year relating to allegations of inappropriate behaviour by male coaches towards female players in the 1990s, as first uncovered by a joint RTE Investigates/Sunday Independent investigation.

However, Mr Courell will tell TDs he can't discuss those allegations due to an ongoing criminal investigation by gardaí.

"We have been legally advised that it would not be appropriate for the Association to comment on the specific allegations or on factual matters which may form part of the investigation. This is necessary in order to protect the investigation and the rights of everyone concerned. We are of course happy to answer fully on our current safeguarding policies, structures and oversight", he will say.

"Our position remains clear: nobody should ever feel unsafe in Irish football, nobody should have felt unsafe in the past and nobody should feel unheard."

The FAI continues to assist in the gardaí investigation, Mr Courell will state.

Representatives of Sport Ireland will also appear before the committee and will tell TDs and Senators how the FAI has declared compliance with all safeguarding legislation as well as delivering more than 400 safeguarding workshops directly to members in 2025.

Ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Alan Kelly said: "This meeting is an important opportunity for the Committee to examine the progress reported by the FAI on safeguarding and governance, and to seek clarity on how standards are being applied across clubs, leagues and the wider football system."

Committee members will also seek an update on the progress under the current Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the FAI.

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