Can't be 'self-defeating' over Israel games - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland does not want to be "self-defeating" in its approach to international soccer matches against Israel in the autumn.

The Republic of Ireland men's team is scheduled to face Israel in two UEFA Nations League fixtures in September and October.

At a friendly match in the Aviva Stadium last night, some fans threw tennis balls on the pitch with the words "Stop The Game" emblazoned on Palestine flag stickers in protest.

"We don't want to damage ourselves unnecessarily," Mr Martin said regarding any potential boycott of the matches against Israel.

The Taoiseach said Irish football has been on an upward curve of late, adding that Ireland would not "want to be self-defeating in terms of any actions".

"The Government doesn't run FIFA," he said.

"The full implications of, say, if the Irish team in unilaterally decided to put out, the full implications of that in terms of Irish football needs to be worked out.

"There’s a presumption that if they did, some of that would impact on FIFA, it may have no impact at all on FIFA, or indeed on Israel, for that matter."

Asked if a neutral venue for the home match would help matters, the Taoiseach said: "The same principle applies that you're playing Israel. And it's a very difficult one."

"There is no room for a team to unilaterally decide not to play," he said, regarding tournament rules.

Ireland's Nations League matches against Israel are sanctioned by UEFA.

He said the gardaí will deal with any security considerations around the match.

Mr Martin said the Government has been very clear in terms of its opposition to the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, to the "appalling behaviour" of Israeli settlers in the West Bank and to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"There is no argument about Ireland's opposition to what Israel has been doing in Gaza, and everything shouldn’t be reduced to just one match in terms of the articulation of that opposition or protesting about the Israeli government’s behaviour in Gaza itself."

Mr Martin argued that Ireland has "done more than probably any other EU country bar Spain" in respect of "a whole series of measure that we've taken".

He said Palestinians and nearby Arab countries all "speak highly" of the Irish people and the Irish Government's response.

"It can't all be boiled down to one football game. I do acknowledge that people want to protest and people are very angry that it's happening."

Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan and Charlie McConalogue, who is Minister of State for Sport, confirmed on Wednesday that they would not attend the match against Israel in Dublin.

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