Ireland-Israel Nations League match will be in Serbia behind closed doors

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland’s home game against Israel in the Nations League will be behind closed doors in Serbia in October.

The Football Association of Ireland requested a neutral site and UEFA approved. The Oct. 4 match will be in Bačka Topola in northern Serbia.

They will first meet on Sept. 27 in Debrecen, Hungary, for Israel’s “home” game.

Ireland was urged at home to boycott the matches against Israel. At a recent home friendly against Qatar, Irish activists hurled tennis balls onto the pitch in protest. The balls had “Stop the Game” written on them, referring to the Nations League matches against Israel.

But the FAI argued that boycotting the games could damage its chances of qualifying for the 2028 European Championship, which Ireland is co-hosting with Britain.

The FAI added it previously called on UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions in protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Neither Ireland nor Israel qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

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