Protesters halt game as calls grow on Ireland to boycott second Israel game

Protesters against Ireland playing its Nations League games against Israel interrupted the team’s match against Austria on Thursday by throwing tennis balls onto the field.

Referee Allard Lindhout sent the players for a hydration break as soon as the balls bearing Palestinian flags landed on the grass with Ireland 1-0 up after 19 minutes played.

Troy Parrott had opened the scoring in the 12th with a brilliant individual goal, playing the ball through the legs of one defender and then eluding another before shooting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs.

The game resumed after a four-minute break, after which it flipped with Austria in the ascendancy until Parrott made it 2-0 with a penalty — in off the right post before the break.

Before that, a man had tried running onto the field but was stopped by stewards. Irish broadcaster RTE reported he was carrying a Palestinian flag.

Protesters also gathered before the match because of Israel’s actions in Gaza. A small group of campaigners from the “Stop the Game” initiative set up close to the stadium and displayed a Palestinian flag and banners in support of Ireland player Gavin Bazunu, who decided on Saturday to boycott both of his team’s matches against Israel.

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised a protest outside the stadium, as well as others around the country.

They’re calling for Ireland to boycott its remaining Nations League match against Israel — Ireland’s “home” game, though it’s set to be played without any fans present in Backa Topola, Serbia on Sunday.

The Football Association of Ireland moved the game to a neutral venue for “operational reasons” in June following widespread calls for a boycott. It also followed the FAI’s own motion the previous November calling on UEFA to ban Israel from club and international competitions.

The “Stop the Game” initiative, which on Wednesday issued an open letter to the squad and its coach Heimir Hallgrimsson asking them not to play on Sunday, has also asked the Irish government and FAI to cancel the game.

Ireland already played Israel’s “home” game in Debrecen, Hungary last Sunday, when the Irish players wore black armbands and scored three first-half goals to win 3-0.

The players deliberated for hours the day before as to whether they should play at all, after Bazunu informed the coach that morning that he wished to withdraw from both games.

FAI chief executive David Courell said the players voted and that “a significant majority” were in favour of playing. Widespread reports suggested the vote was 14-8 in favour, excluding Bazunu, who had already departed.

Bazunu, Ireland’s reserve goalkeeper, was back in the squad for Austria’s visit.

Finn Azaz, whose mother has Israeli heritage, was back in the team after being left out against Israel.

The Irish team has been under increasing pressure in their home country, where affinity with Palestinians is strong, to boycott playing against Israel.

The FAI has resisted the calls, arguing the team could be hit with punishing sanctions by UEFA. Ireland is cohosting the 2028 European Championship with England, Wales and Scotland.