The Football Association of Ireland says Uefa has rejected its request to keep the Republic of Ireland and Israel separate in future competition draws, adding another layer to an already difficult situation for both the association and its players.
FAI chief executive David Courell said the response from Uefa was clear: the teams could not be kept apart because Ireland and Israel have never been in direct conflict. Courell said he took that answer at face value, even though the FAI had pushed for a different outcome.
The issue has grown more sensitive amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the two games already under pressure. The Republic of Ireland and Israel were drawn together in February, and the FAI has already had to deal with several developments around the fixtures.
How the fixtures reached this point
In May, a friendly against Qatar in Dublin was disrupted when tennis balls were thrown on to the pitch. Then in June, the FAI confirmed its home game on 4 October would be played behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, while no tickets would be made available for Irish fans for Israel's home fixture in Debrecen, Hungary.
In July, delegates at an extraordinary general meeting backed an FAI motion to proceed with the games. That left the association to manage the practical and security concerns around the matches, while also trying to shield the players from the wider fallout.
Courell said the FAI had publicly and formally called for Israel's removal from international football. He said the association was the only federation in Uefa, one out of 55, to do so formally, but added that no institutional action had followed. He also said the FAI wanted to offer support and protection to the players because the decision rested with the FAI board.
What happens next
The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to play Israel in the Nations League on 27 September and again on 4 October. With Uefa rejecting the FAI request on future draws, the teams could still find themselves paired again unless circumstances change. For now, the immediate focus remains on getting through the current fixtures as safely and smoothly as possible.
