A friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar in Dublin was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests, fueling concerns about the upcoming Nations League matches against Israel. Midfielder Jamie McGrath warned that the controversy could 'heat up' in the coming months.
Ireland is set to host Israel at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 4 October, while the away match on 27 September is expected to take place at a neutral venue.
During the match against Qatar, tennis balls with Palestinian flags printed on them were thrown onto the pitch, causing the game to be paused twice. McGrath said he expects protests to continue but hopes they remain peaceful. 'Clearly, this is a special situation. Protesters have the right to do what they do, as long as it is peaceful,' he said.
The Irish players admitted they do not want to be caught up in political issues. 'We are football players and we don't want to get stuck in this, but sometimes we are forced to face it,' McGrath said. However, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed it will go ahead with the matches against Israel, noting that refusal to play could lead to disciplinary action.
Last November, 93% of FAI members voted to urge the federation leadership to push UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions. Last week, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign also held a protest at the Irish parliament.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has frequently spoken out on the issue. Before the Qatar match, he said the players must 'win the battle' against Israel in the upcoming games. Nonetheless, McGrath believes the story may spiral beyond the team's control: 'Honestly, I don't know. I'm sure that when things heat up, it might be out of our hands.'
