Ireland-Qatar friendly stopped twice as fans throw tennis balls to protest Nations League games with Israel
The international friendly between Ireland and Qatar had to be stopped twice on Thursday as fans protested against Nations League matches against Israel.
During the match played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, tennis balls were thrown onto the field by spectators in the upper West, East and South sections of the stands. 42.
Subsequently, League of Ireland fans who took part in the protest issued a statement, claiming it was their own action and delivering a “strong message” to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the country’s government.
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Seamus Coleman of the Republic of Ireland reacts to tennis balls being thrown onto the field during an international friendly match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 28, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA Images)
“The Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel should be cancelled,” the statement reads.
Supporters of all the major LOI clubs in the capital were joined by fans of Cork City, Drogheda United, Dundalk FC, Galway United, Sligo Rovers and Waterford as tennis balls emblazoned with the demand to #StopTheGame were thrown onto the field of play.
IRELAND AGREED TO PLAY ISRAEL IN THE NATIONS LEAGUE DESPITE PREVIOUS CALLS TO BANN THE GAZA WAR
Video shot in the press box by The 42’s David Sneyd shows the moment fans in the upper tier threw tennis balls onto the court.
A banner reading “#StopTheGame” was also unfurled from the front row and over the wall for all to see. Additionally, chants of “Free Palestine” were heard from the stands.
“It is unreasonable for these games to continue while the racist Occupation regime continues to commit genocide against the Palestinian people,” one of those who attended the protest said, according to the outlet. “We would probably be literally playing football with war criminals.
“Military service is mandatory there, so most of the Nations League squads will have served in the ‘Israeli Defense Forces’. Since October 2023, they have murdered more than 1,000 athletes and coaches in Gaza, including at least 421 football players, and destroyed or damaged 265 sports facilities.”
The protest comes after Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson called on fans not to protest and support the team at a press conference on Wednesday.
A motion was also tabled by The 42, the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland (PFAI), the Irish Football Supporters’ Partnership (IFSP), CK United, Cork City and Bohemian FC, calling on the FAI to refuse to participate in scheduled matches against Israel “on both legal and moral grounds”.
Fans protest during an international friendly football match between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 28, 2026. (Stephen McCarthy/Sports File)
Ireland will face Israel on neutral ground on 27 September, followed by a match in Dublin on 4 October.
This is not the first time football-based tensions have emerged this month regarding Israel. Palestinian Football Federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands or even stand next to Israeli Football Federation Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman during the FIFA Congress on May 1.
Both officials had been invited by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but Rajoub wanted nothing to do with Suliman. There were even times when Infantino put his hand on Rajoub’s arm and signaled him to be intimate with Suliman, but he refused.
“I still respect and follow the legal procedure, but I think it is now time to understand that sanctions should be imposed on Israel,” Rajoub said, as he believes the country should be banned from international football. he said.
Tennis balls lie on the court during an international friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 28, 2026. (Stephen McCarthy/Sports File)
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“I refused to shake hands. Sport is sport. In my opinion, this should be respected, but when the other party represents a criminal like Bibi [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] “I speak on behalf of Bibi as if Bibi is Mother Teresa, how can I shake hands or take a photo with a man like that?”
Despite losing due to a red card, Ireland defeated Qatar 1-0.
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