Lifestyle & Sports
30 Jun 26

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: "How dare the FAI ascribe 'neutral' to Serbia when it is a close ally of apartheid Israel"

Ireland Women's World Cup homecoming at O'Connell Street, Dublin. Thursday 3rd of August 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The IPSC previously called the decision to have the fixture played overseas in a neutral venue "reprehensible."

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has released a statement criticising the FAI's decision to hold the Republic of Ireland's Nations League fixture against Israel in Serbia.

The FAI confirmed yesterday that the fixture will be held behind closed doors in the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia, on Sunday, October 4.

"How dare the FAI ascribe 'neutral' to Serbia when it is a close ally of apartheid Serbia," the statement began.

Serbia has emerged as a crucial military partner for Israel. It has significantly increased its weapon exports to Israel following the October 7 attack.

In April of this year, Serbian President Vučić confirmed that Serbia and the Israeli defence giant Elbit Systems - a primary supplier of equipment used by the Israeli military in Gaza - are opening a joint combat drone manufacturing facility.

"Not only is there no neutral venue that holds the national team of a state committing genocide, but Serbia is a key supporter of Israel's mass murder of Palestinians.

"The FAI is sinking to new lows; it must boycott these Nations League games and get on the right side of history, now."

The FAI has continuously insisted it would fulfil the fixtures as pulling out of the matches would have "a profound impact on the whole of Irish football."

It said the result of not fulfilling the games would be the forfeiture of six points, which would lead to relegation to League C in the Nations League and an impact on the team's UEFA and FIFA rankings, highlighting "the converse of these impacts would apply to Israel," increasing their chances of Nations League promotion and Euro 2028 qualification.