Exploring the likely outcome of negotiations that are set to take place ahead of Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel.
Johnny Logan in 1987(Image: Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI Collection)
In the venue where Johnny Logan won the Eurovision in 1987 with Hold Me Now, Ireland’s Nations League fate was sealed.
That song is belted out at every Bohemians home game – and it was Bohs that tabled the motion at last November’s FAI AGM, which won the support of delegates, urging UEFA and FIFA to kick Israel out of international competition.
As for the Eurovision, Ireland won’t be competing in this year’s Song Contest because of Israel’s presence in the competition.
Strange times.
Johnny Logan at Bohemians’ Dalymount Park stadium(Image: INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
The draw that placed the Boys in Green in League B3 of the Nations League with Israel has ensured that this will be no ordinary campaign.
Within minutes of the teams being paired together – along with Austria and Kosovo – the FAI issued a statement confirming that the fixtures against Israel would be fulfilled.
That led to an angry response from Sinn Féin, who called on the Association to boycott the games.
Logistically, Israel’s visit to Dublin would be a nightmare – and not just for the FAI.
As one colleague remarked on Thursday night after the draw, what hotel would put them up, and draw thousands of protesters to their doors for the duration of their stay?
The depth of feeling within this country towards the plight of Palestinians, who have been killed in their tens of thousands over the past two-and-a-half years at the hands of Israel, will ensure this is a game like no other.
Heimir Hallgrímsson was trying his best to stick to football in the wake of the draw.
Heimir Hallgrimsson is interviewed after the UEFA Nations League draw at Brussels Expo(Image: Alex Bierens de Haan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
“I’m going to focus on the football side,” he insisted. “It’s going to be a tough group. It’s going to be a tough group.”
But unfortunately this is about more than just football.
As Bohemians COO Daniel Lambert, a strong advocate for the rights of Palestinians, pointed out on RTÉ radio on Friday morning, the draw has shone a light on UEFA’s disregard for its own rule book.
“UEFA’s own statute book says that Israel should not play in UEFA competition,” he said, citing the presence of Israeli club teams on occupied territories.
“We are all being done a disservice by UEFA. The board of UEFA are refusing to implement their own rule book and that is unacceptable.”
The FAI has been stronger than any other national governing body in opposing Israel’s continued involvement in international competition.
As a nation, Ireland has been louder than most in condemning Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
We are one of the few countries to formally recognise the state of Palestine.
Tensions between the two countries have seen Israel withdraw their ambassador to Ireland.
And there was Ireland’s intervention in South Africa’s case at the International Court of Human Rights against Israel.
Israeli football authorities have come out and said that they are eager to host games in Tel Aviv once again.
They have not played an international game on home soil since their bombardment of Gaza began two and a half years ago – and are unlikely to be permitted to do so later this year.
Ultimately, what will probably happen is that the two games between these two countries will take place on neutral territory.
Gardaí and security officials will likely see the visit of the Israeli football team as far too problematic.
Israel have hosted teams in Hungary, mostly Debrecen. The FAI would have to come up with a venue of their own in such an outcome.
They wouldn’t be the first to host Israel on foreign soil. Almost a year into the Gaza conflict, Belgium played a home game against Israel in Debrecen, while Budapest was the stage for their ‘away’ game.
In a statement issued at the time, the Belgian FA wrote: “As no local authority in Belgium considers it possible to host the Red Devils’ home match against Israel on Friday 6 September, the Royal Belgian Football Association has had to seek a solution abroad.
“In consultation with UEFA, it was decided to play the match at the Nagyerdei stadium in Debrecen, behind closed doors.
“After the city of Brussels indicated that the home match against Israel would not take place at the King Baudouin Stadium, the RBFA wrote to several cities with a UEFA-compliant stadium.
“After extensive consultation, the mayors of these cities – for security reasons – did not give their approval to host the match in their cities.”
Norway did host Israel in Oslo for a World Cup qualifier last October, but with a reduced capacity.
Fans of Norway hold up a giant Palestine flag and a banner with the message ‘Let Children Live’ during the World Cup 2026 qualifier against Israel(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Protests outside the stadium led to police using tear gas, while Palestinian flags were waved throughout Norway’s 5-0 win, and a fan ran onto the pitch during the first-half wearing a t-shirt with ‘Free Gaza’ written on it.
Thousands of people protest ahead of the Norway-Israel match in October 2025(Image: Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)
These incidents will all come into consideration as the various bodies – security and sporting – consider their options ahead of the Nations League.
National associations must submit their venue of choice 120 days before a match – so that means a June 7 deadline for the Israeli FA and June 14 for the FAI, for games that take place on September 27 and October 4.
On Thursday night, when France legend and Roy Keane’s one-time nemesis Patrick Vieira drew Ireland in League B3 alongside Israel, the camera panned to an Irish delegation in Brussels Expo that sat stony faced.
Quite a contrast from the reaction 39 years ago at that same venue, when Johnny Logan’s sang his way to victory – and ultimately to a cult following within a club that has become the needle in Irish football’s moral compass.