DCC backs call for Ireland to withdraw from Israel Nations League fixtures

Dublin City Council has become the first local authority in Ireland to formally condemn the scheduling of the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel.

An emergency motion, tabled by councillors Cieran Perry, Nial Ring and Kevin Breen, was accepted without debate by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daryl Barron, during last night’s council meeting.

The motion calls on the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to withdraw the Republic of Ireland men’s senior team from the fixtures scheduled for September and October 2026.

It also directs that the motion be forwarded to the FAI Chief Executive, the Minister for Sport and every local authority in the country.

Speaking after the motion was accepted, Councillor Cieran Perry said the fixtures should not go ahead in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

“For too long, the sports-washing of atrocities has been allowed to pass without adequate institutional challenge,” he said.

“We are witnessing an active genocide being carried out against the people of Palestine, who truly have ‘no choice’.

“Moving matches to neutral venues behind closed doors does nothing to erase the ethical stain.

“The FAI must align itself with the ethics, heart, and conscience of the Irish public and refuse to participate in these fixtures, regardless of the regulatory or financial consequences UEFA may threaten.”

Councillor Nial Ring welcomed the Lord Mayor’s decision.

“I am delighted that the Lord Mayor, Daryl Barron,  showed true moral leadership in his first council meeting by allowing this emergency motion to be taken without debate tonight,” he said.

“Dublin City Council has stepped up, as it should, to become the first local government authority in the country to formally condemn the scheduling of these matches.

“The FAI is hiding behind UEFA obligations and lobbying its members with manufactured figures about potential financial losses of over €10 million and threats of “unsustainable consequences”.

“The FAI may fear financial cost by standing up for human rights, but that is absolutely no excuse for being morally bankrupt as they are right now.

“We cannot allow the burden of international diplomacy to be forced onto individual players while the footballing authorities completely abdicate their ethical duties.”

Councillor Kevin Breen said the council’s decision sent a message to the FAI.

“Tonight, Dublin City Council has sent an unequivocal message to the FAI board ahead of their upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting, he said.

“The massive public outcry and fan protests at the Aviva Stadium make it clear that the Irish public wants no part in these matches.

“Our local sporting infrastructure must not be used to validate these fixtures, and we urge FAI members to vote with their conscience next Wednesday.”

The FAI has previously said it is obliged to fulfil its UEFA fixtures and has warned members that withdrawing from the matches could have significant sporting and financial consequences.

Ireland are due to face Israel in UEFA Nations League fixtures in September and October, with the games set to be played at neutral venues behind closed doors.