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UEFA Nations League

Irish players bow their heads during Israeli national anthem before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel in Backa Topola, Serbia, October 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
October 6, 2026, 3:16 pm
UEFA probes claim Israeli soccer player spat at Ireland staff member during match
Ireland head of athletic performance Damien Doyle alleges incident happened near tunnel; Irish team again bowed heads during anthem in tense 1-1 draw
By AP and ToI Staff
Israel’s Liel Abada passes the ball by Ireland’s Owen Elding during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel in Backa Topola, Serbia, October 4, 2026. (AP/Darko Vojinovic)
October 5, 2026, 12:48 am
Israel ties Ireland 1:1 as both teams don black armbands for tense UEFA game
Irish captain again refuses to shake hands with Israeli counterpart at match played in Serbia, and Irish players again bow their heads during Israeli anthem
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Tennis balls with stickers of the Palestine flag and the text, “#StopTheGame,” are removed from the field after being thrown by protesters during the UEFA Nations League, Group B3 match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, on October 1, 2026. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
October 2, 2026, 3:56 am
Interrupting game, protesters throw tennis balls, urge Ireland to boycott next match against Israel
Balls bearing Palestinian flag thrown onto pitch during Ireland-Austria game, prompting timeout; man with Palestinian flag runs onto pitch when match resumes
By AP
Ireland's soccer players bow their heads as the Israeli national anthem plays before their UEFA Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary, September 27, 2026. (Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)
September 28, 2026, 4:02 am
Irish soccer team refuses handshakes, bows heads during Israeli anthem; wins the match 3-0
Players wear black armbands to mark Gaza war dead, one player boycotts, broadcaster strips down its coverage; Israel’s captain says Ireland players said unpleasant things during game: ‘Obviously they hate us. We don’t like them’
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Ireland’s players pose for the team picture before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Kosovo and Ireland in Pristina, Kosovo, September 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
September 26, 2026, 3:07 pm
After players vote, Ireland decides to play soccer match with Israel; 1 player withdraws
Team was thrown into turmoil after Gavin Bazunu said he would boycott upcoming Nations League fixtures; players to wear black armbands to mark ‘all lives lost in the conflict’
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin arrives at Heron House, the base of the government’s Number 10 North, in Manchester, England, September 18, 2026. (Oli Scarff/Pool Photo via AP)
September 23, 2026, 10:18 am
Irish PM slams ‘unacceptable’ remarks from Israel’s soccer federation amid spat
Micheal Martin says comments should be ‘withdrawn’ after Israeli body accused Ireland’s coach of ‘stupidity and ignorance’ for saying his team was ‘playing against genocide’
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Ireland’s coach Heimir Hallgrimsson stands by the sideline before a soccer World Cup playoff semifinal soccer match between the Czech Republic and Ireland in Prague, Czech Republic, March 26, 2026. (AP/Vit Tcherny)
September 22, 2026, 2:40 am
Israel’s soccer federation blasts Irish coach for saying ‘we’re playing against genocide’
Ahead of upcoming Nations League matches, association accuses Heimir Hallgrimsson of ‘stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy’; Irish athletes group urges team to boycott the fixtures
By ToI Staff and Reuters
Republic of Ireland's defender Seamus Coleman reacts as tennis balls with Palestinian flags on them are thrown onto the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on May 28, 2026. (Paul Faith/AFP)
May 30, 2026, 12:19 am
Irish fans disrupt national soccer team’s game to protest planned matches against Israel
Coach of Ireland, who has called for a ban on Israel, says ‘we respect the protest’ after game against Qatar is twice interrupted when Palestinian flagged-tennis balls thrown onto field
By AFP
Illustrative: Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters gather ahead of a Europa League soccer match between PAOK and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in the port city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Wednesday, September 24, 2025. (AP/Giannis Papanikos)
May 7, 2026, 11:35 am
Irish athletes, celebrities urge boycott of upcoming soccer games against Israel
Signing letter titled ‘Stop the Game,’ leading figures demand Irish government ‘respect and represent’ wishes of the people, cancel UEFA Nations League games planned for this fall
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Irish players applaud fans following the UEFA Nations League match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium in London on November 17, 2024. (Ben STANSALL / AFP)
February 26, 2026, 3:25 pm
Irish soccer chief says country has ‘no choice’ but to play matches against Israel
Despite local pressure to boycott, Football Association of Ireland executive says only ‘viable option’ is to play UEFA games in September and October
By AFP
Israel fans cheer their team ahead of a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Israel and Italy at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
February 13, 2026, 2:52 am
Ireland commits to play Israel in European soccer tourney after seeking Israeli team’s ouster
Both squads are drawn in same group for Nations League, with Ireland’s soccer association acknowledging risk of forfeiture if it refuses to play against Jewish state
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Israel's Yarden Shua, right, celebrates after scoring his side's winning goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A2 soccer match between Israel and Belgium at the Bozsik Arena stadium in Budapest, Hungary, November 17, 2024. (Denes Erdos/AP)
November 18, 2024, 10:27 am
Last-gasp goal gives Israel 1-0 win over Belgium in Nations League soccer
Debutant Yarden Shua scores in 86th minute; national team still relegated from top tier, but victory celebrated as major achievement
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Spectators unfurl a huge a banner reading 'Free Palestine,' depicting the entire State of Israel within the pattern of a keffiyeh in the letter 'i,' alongside Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock, Lebanese flag imagery, prior to the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on November 6, 2024. (Reuters/Stephanie Lecocq)
November 7, 2024, 7:26 pm
Paris soccer club escapes UEFA sanctions over fans’ huge ‘Free Palestine’ banner
Ahead of Israel-France game next week, European soccer’s governing body decides not to discipline PSG over huge flag as it wasn’t deemed ‘provocative or insulting’
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Spectators unfurl a huge a banner reading 'Free Palestine,' depicting the entire State of Israel within the pattern of a keffiyeh in the letter 'i,' alongside Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock, Lebanese flag imagery, prior to the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on November 6, 2024. (Reuters/Stephanie Lecocq)
November 7, 2024, 2:14 pm
French minister calls huge ‘Free Palestine’ banner at Paris soccer match ‘unacceptable’
Interior minister says he isn’t ruling out sanctions over violation of French and European soccer rules; Jewish community leader says banner was ‘call to hatred’
By AFP and ToI Staff
Spectators unfurl a huge a banner reading 'Free Palestine,' depicting the entire State of Israel within the pattern of a keffiyeh in the letter 'i,' alongside Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock, Lebanese flag imagery, prior to the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on November 6, 2024. (Reuters/Stephanie Lecocq)
November 7, 2024, 3:56 am
Paris soccer fans unveil huge ‘Free Palestine’ banner, days before France-Israel game
Banner, raised by fans of Qatar-owned PSG club, depicts entire State of Israel within pattern of keffiyeh in the ‘i’ of Palestine, alongside Dome of the Rock, Lebanese flag imagery
By Agencies and ToI Staff
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