Amnesty International has called on UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel from international football ahead of two Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland.
Ireland and Israel are scheduled to meet this coming Sunday (27th) and October 4 during the opening international window of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League.
The teams have been drawn alongside Austria and Kosovo in League B, with further group matches due to take place in November.
Amnesty International said Israel should not be allowed to participate while clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continue to compete in leagues governed by the Israel Football Association.
Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s regional director for Europe, described Israel’s continued participation as “unconscionable”.
“UEFA and FIFA should have suspended the Israel Football Association long ago for its refusal to exclude clubs based in illegal settlements in the OPT,” he said.
“Their continued participation in the Israeli leagues is in brazen violation of FIFA’s statutes and is contrary to international law.”
Mr Cockburn claimed that continued financial support for the Israel Football Association risked contributing to the maintenance of illegal settlements and Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
“Sport should never be used as a public relations spectacle for states committing atrocities,” he said.
“The beautiful game should bring people together, not rubber-stamp apartheid.”
The Football Association of Ireland has formally asked UEFA to consider suspending Israel from its competitions.
However, UEFA has approved the upcoming Nations League fixtures, with neutral venues to be used where necessary.
According to Amnesty International, Ireland’s two games against Israel are due to be played in Hungary and Serbia behind closed doors, meaning supporters will not be permitted to attend.
The fixtures have faced opposition in Ireland through the Stop the Game campaign, which is calling for sanctions, a boycott or the cancellation of the matches.
A number of football organisations, players, trade unions, artists, activists and politicians have supported demands for action against Israel.
Amnesty International wrote to FIFA and UEFA in October 2025 concerning the participation of clubs based in Israeli settlements.
It argued that allowing those clubs to compete indirectly legitimised Israel’s occupation and ignored a 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice.
The Palestinian Football Association has since taken a case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA rejected complaints concerning clubs based in the settlements.
Mr Cockburn said football supporters were demanding action while political and sporting authorities remained on the sidelines.
“When rules are broken, when occupation, apartheid and genocide are ongoing, we cannot look the other way,” he said.