Photograph: PAThe forthcoming Ireland football matches against Israel should proceed, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said, despite calls for them to be boycotted. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed it intended to fulfil the fixtures as scheduled. “Therefore, I am extremely angry and dismayed that the FAI have confirmed they will play against Israel. “In Ireland, the responsibility falls to RTÉ as Ireland’s national public service media, and a member of the EBU. The decision regarding Ireland’s participation in any football match is one for the FAI, not RTÉ,” it said.

Source: The Irish Times February 13, 2026 20:50 UTC