Israel fans can attend Republic of Ireland fixture
The Republic of Ireland's football team will play Israel in neutral venues for the upcoming Nations League matches due to security concerns. While Israeli fans will be allowed to attend the match in Hungary, the return fixture in Serbia will be played behind closed doors.
Why it matters
The decision highlights the intersection of international sports and geopolitical conflict, reflecting the operational challenges of hosting teams during ongoing wars.
Israel supporters will be in attendance when their side face the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League next month but no away fans will be facilitated.
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East , both games between the sides in Group B3 will be played at neutral venues, with Israel the designated home team at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen in Hungary on 27 September, where a "small allocation" of their supporters will be permitted to attend.
The reverse fixture will be played in Serbia and the Football Association of Ireland [FAI] has confirmed that game on October 4 will be played entirely behind closed doors.
"The association appreciates the passion and commitment that Ireland supporters always show when following its teams around the world, but operational challenges and safety and security concerns led to this decision being made," said an FAI statement.
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