Stop the Game protest could disrupt Ireland’s home game against Austria
Protest group 'Stop the Game' is threatening to disrupt an upcoming Republic of Ireland football match against Austria in Dublin. The campaign is reacting to the FAI's decision to move a match against Israel to Serbia, fearing that if the away leg in Hungary proceeds, protests in Dublin will escalate.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the intersection of international geopolitical conflict and domestic sports administration, posing significant security and financial risks for national football associations.
The Stop the Game campaign is considering protests around the Republic of Ireland match against Austria at the Aviva Stadium on October 1st if the Nations League fixtures against Israel go ahead as planned.
The Government has supported the FAI decision to move the “home” tie against Israel on October 4th to Bačka Topola in Serbia following the tennis ball protest that delayed the friendly against Qatar at the Aviva in May.
Israel will host Ireland on September 27th in Debrecen, Hungary as football internationals have not been played in Israel since October 2023 due to security concerns.
The FAI, having consulted with An Garda Síochána, expressed concern that similar protests to the Qatar game could lead to an Israel fixture in Dublin being abandoned. The association’s decision to move to Serbia was also on financial grounds, citing a potential loss of €10 million if the matches are not fulfilled.
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