On Sunday afternoon, Ireland is set to play a soccer match against Israel amid widespread public calls and protests in the country to boycott the game due to Israel’s violent conduct in Gaza, which a UN report found to be a genocide.

The match will take place at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, an alternative venue for Israel’s “home” match as Union of European Football Associations, the international governing football body in Europe, has not permitted games in Israel since October 2023 due to security concerns. Ireland’s football association declined any tickets for the match from UEFA, while Israel is expected to have no more than 100 supporters, with tickets mostly bought by supporters living in Hungary. Nagyerdei Stadium has a capacity of around 20,000.

Ireland’s “home” match against Israel is scheduled for October 4 at TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia. It will be played behind closed doors with no supporters in attendance.

“I don’t think the game obviously should be going ahead but it is going ahead.”

Ireland has long held some of the highest public support for Palestinians. In 1980, the country became the first member of the European Union to call for Palestinian statehood. Recent polls suggest that about two-thirds of Ireland residents don’t want the match to take place. Ireland has also boycotted international events in the past due to Israel, including this year’s Eurovision singing competition. They announced earlier this month they will continue this........

© Mother Jones