PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS INTERRUPT IRELAND DRAW WITH AUSTRIA

Campaign group Stop the Game threw tennis balls onto the field before a man invaded the pitch and was tackled by security

The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League match with Austria was twice interrupted by pro-Palestine protestors on Thursday evening following the controversial decision to play against Israel during this international camp.

Ireland’s players held a meeting last week and voted in favour of playing the scheduled matches against Israel despite opposition from supporters in Ireland who are against the conflict between Israel and Palestine in Gaza.

They defeated Israel 3-0 last Sunday (Sept 27) in a match played in Hungary and are scheduled to face the Israelis again in a behind-closed-doors contest in Serbia this upcoming Sunday (Oct 4).

Despite a heavy security presence at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Austria was subject to protests in the first half as campaign group Stop the Game threw tennis balls onto the pitch.

The balls were wrapped in stickers featuring the Palestinian flag and had the text “#StopTheGame” written on them. The campaign group launched the balls onto the field in the 20th minute with Ireland 1-0 up and later released a statement claiming responsibility for what it called a “limited tennis ball protest”.

Members of the group had also gathered before the game to oppose Ireland's matches against Israel with a small group displaying a Palestinian flag and banners in support of Irish player Gavin Bazunu, who decided to boycott both of his team’s matches against Israel in this international window.

The game resumed after a four-minute break, but there was another brief delay later in the first half as a man carrying what appeared to be a Palestinian flag invaded the pitch before being tackled, stopped and removed by stewards.

Elsewhere, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign also organized a protest outside the stadium, as well as others around the country calling for Ireland to boycott its remaining Nations League match against Israel.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) decided in June to move their “home” fixture against Israel to a neutral venue for “operational reasons” following widespread calls for a boycott.

The FAI has resisted the calls not to play and argued that the team could be hit with punishing sanctions by Uefa if it did so. Ireland are co-hosting the 2028 European Championship with England, Wales and Scotland and there could be possible ramifications.

This match wasn’t the first to feature a tennis ball protest as Irish fans also threw balls with Palestinian flags onto the field during a friendly game against Qatar in Dublin in May.

- Michael Jones

ISRAEL ISSUE FURIOUS STATEMENT AFTER IRELAND MANAGER MAKES 'GENOCIDE' COMMENT

 

The Israel FA have issued a furious statement in response to Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson's 'genocide' comment ahead of their Nations League fixture on Sunday night.

A lot of controversy has surrounded the fixture, with the 'Stop the Game' campaign publishing an open letter on Monday, signed by more than 100 sporting figures, calling for the players not to fulfil upcoming fixtures against Israel as part of a continued boycott amid the ongoing Gaza War.

Ciara Mageean, Louise Quinn, Tony Ward, Joe Brolly and Colm O'Rourke were among the signatories. As per the Daily Mail, the letter claimed that pressure was being placed on the players after previous attempts to influence governing bodies and the government came to nought.

"The FAI, UEFA, and the Irish Government have all failed you by not taking decisive action and taking this out of your hands," it claimed. But while governing bodies have not taken any form of direct action against Israel, despite calls for them to do so coming well before the 2026 World Cup, Ireland's boss has now had some choice words of his own to say.

Heimir Hallgrimsson Makes 'Genocide' Comment Before Israel Fixture

The Icelandic boss used forceful language in defending his team as they prepare to take the field against a side that the Football Association of Ireland wanted to have suspended from competitions. He said over the weekend:

"And I've said before, we're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide.

"So, we're playing against Israel. We're not playing with Israel."

Israel has not officially recognised or accepted any allegations of genocide, strongly rejecting such claims as false and stating that its military actions in Gaza are acts of self-defense following the October 7, 2023, attacks.

However, international bodies and expert organizations have applied the term to Israel's actions, with the UN concluding last year (as per the BBC) that acts of genocide have been carried out on Palestinians - a finding that many human rights organisations agree with, as records state at least 73,919 Palestinians and over 1,200 Israelis have been killed.

Israel Hit Back With Furious Statement

As reports circulated that the Israelis were considering filing a complaint to UEFA, the Israeli FA posted on X on Monday night (see the full post below):

"We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the Republic of Ireland team coach.

"We're not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we're playing against the coach who embodies them." 

The Ireland chief oversaw training at Abbotstown as he fine-tunes preparations for Thursday's meeting with Kosovo in Pristina, but it's the meeting with Israel in Debrecen in Hungary on Sunday, and in Backa Topola in Serbia a week later, that continue to dominate headlines.

- Robin Mumford

LAMINE YAMAL WAVES PALESTINIAN FLAG AS BARCELONA CELEBRATE LA LIGA WIN

Tens of thousands of Barcelona fans pack streets of Spanish city during open-top bus parade after domestic football league victory.

Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal waves a Palestinian flag during the celebrations in Barcelona on May 11 [Screen grab/x/@barcacentre]

Spanish teenage superstar Lamine Yayal has garnered praise from football fans for expressing solidarity with Palestine during Barcelona’s celebrations for winning the La Liga title.

In several clips widely shared online Monday, the 18-year-old could be seen waving a Palestinian flag from inside an open-top bus to cheers from jubilant crowds.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Barcelona to greet their heroes during the parade around the Spanish city.

Barca won their 29th La Liga title with a 2-0 victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, marking the second time the league’s outcome has been decided by the result of an El Clasico match.

Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, the city of Barcelona has served as a major hub for pro-Palestinian activism in Spain.

It has also been the site of large regular pro-Palestine protests and served as a departure point for aid flotillas attempting to break the blockade of the besieged and bombarded territory.

Barcelona players tour the city as crowds celebrate the La Liga victory [Albert Gea/Reuters]

- Al Jazeera 

UEFA TO HOLD FRESH VOTE ON BANNING ISRAEL FROM EUROPEAN FOOTBALL OVER GAZA

Geneva: UEFA is reportedly moving ahead with a new vote next week on whether to suspend Israel from European football competitions, according to multiple media reports.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that a large majority of UEFA’s executive committee is ‘expected to support any vote in favor of suspending Israeli teams from international play.’

The possible ban follows mounting calls from human rights bodies and pressure campaigns pointing to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. 

The impetus for the proposal comes in part from a United Nations Commission of Inquiry, which concluded there were “reasonable grounds” to determine that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. 

If the vote passes, Israel’s national side would be expelled from UEFA qualifiers, effectively ending its chance to compete in the 2026 World Cup. 

Domestically, Israeli clubs would be barred from continental club tournaments like the Champions League and Europa League.

Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for Israel to be barred from international sporting competitions, drawing a comparison to Russia’s exclusion following the 2022 Ukraine war.

- The Peninsula 

MOHAMMED SALAH CALLS OUT UEFA OVER TRIBUTE TO PALESTINIAN FOOTBALLER: "CAN YOU TELL HOW HE DIED?"

Mohammed Salah questioned UEFA's tribute to a Palestinian footballer who allegedly died in Gaza, awaiting aid.

AFP

As the Israel-Gaza conflict continues, UEFA's tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid triggered a storm on social media. "Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pele', a post from UEFA read on X, but a big debate was triggered as Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah asked the European football governing body to highlight the reason behind Suleiman's death. It was then that the post went viral on social media, drawing reactions from pundits and fans from all across the globe.

Paying tribute to Suleiman, UEFA called the former national team member "a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times."

Salah responded: "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?"

UEFA, however, didn't respond to the Liverpool superstar's question.

A fan ended up asking Grok, X's AI assistant, about the reason behind Suleiman's death. The response was heartbreaking.

Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'. 

"Suleiman al-Obeid, 41, died on Aug 6, 2025, in southern Gaza while awaiting aid. Palestinian Football Association reports he was killed by Israeli forces targeting civilians. No specific IDF comment; Israel generally denies such actions, citing militant threats or warning shots. Sources: France24, Times of Israel," Grok said.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) later posted a statement on its Facebook page attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, calling Al-Obeid "proof of the joy that can flourish in the hearts of people despite hardship.

"He gave his talent and dedication to the children of Gaza and gave their dreams a hope to blossom despite the suffering," the statement read.

"His death is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who recognises the power of sport to unite people."

"He gave his talent and dedication to the children of Gaza and gave their dreams a hope to blossom despite the suffering," the statement read.

"His death is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who recognises the power of sport to unite people."

It isn't the first time Salah has raised his voice for Palestinians. The Liverpool star previously advocated for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and called for "world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of innocent souls".

- NDTV Sports Desk

NORWAY REFUSES TO PLAY WITH ISRAEL | WANTS EXPULSION

 

PSG'S ULTRAS UNVEIL HUGE 'FREE PALESTINE' BANNER'

PSG's ultras unveil a huge banner ahead of the Champions League game against Atlético.

FIFA TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON PALESTINIAN PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND ISRAEL FROM INTERNATIONAL SOCCER

 BANGKOK (AP) — Facing a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer because of the conflict with Hamas, FIFA bought time Friday by agreeing to seek legal advice before holding an extraordinary council meeting within two months.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino outlined the plan to 211 member federations after leaders of the Palestinian and Israel soccer bodies spoke at the governing body's annual congress in Bangkok.

“Now, due to the obvious sensitivity of these matters, FIFA will mandate as of now independent legal expertise to analyze and assess the three requests made by the Palestinian Football Association and ensure that the statutes and regulations of FIFA are applied in the correct way in order to ensure a fair and due process,” Infantino said.

"This legal assessment will have to allow for inputs and claims of both member associations. The results and the recommendations ... will be forwarded to the FIFA council.

“Due to the urgency of the situation, an extraordinary FIFA Council will be convened and will take place before July 20 to review the results of the legal assessment and to take the decisions that are appropriate.”

The Palestinian soccer federation has now spoken at a FIFA Congress at least five times since 2014 without making the progress it wants.

Palestinian soccer's issues with Israel in that decade have included travel restrictions on its players, the Israeli league including teams from West Bank settlements, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In the past 10 years, FIFA under two different presidents has deferred a vote or decision, or created a working group to report back at a later meeting.

The Palestine Football Association proposal to 211 member federations called for “appropriate sanctions, with immediate effect, against Israeli teams" and was forecast in FIFA documents released last month.

The motion noted “international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza” and cited FIFA statutory commitments on human rights and against discrimination.

The Palestinian FA wrote that “all the football infrastructure in Gaza has been either destroyed, or seriously damaged, including the historic stadium of Al-Yarmuk.”

On Friday at the congress, Palestinian soccer's leader Jibril Rajoub said “the Palestinian people, including the Palestinian football family, are enduring an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”

He said 193 footballers were among the thousands of Palestinians to die in the ongoing war which erupted Oct. 7 with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel.

More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures. About 80% of Gaza’s population have been driven from their homes.

Rajoub, who said he had been threatened because of his sanctions proposal, urged FIFA delegates not to delay the vote.

“The Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs has made serious threats to imprison me if I do not withdraw this proposal, but no power in the world can stand in the way of truth,” Rajoub said.

But Infantino said the matter couldn't go to a full vote of the membership on Friday because it had to be dealt with by FIFA’s governing council.

“I do not want to divide our 211 member countries,” he said. “I have a responsibility as president to apply the statutes of FIFA and its regulations, whatever my personal conviction on these and other terrible matters around the world.”

He said at the FIFA council meeting on Wednesday, all 37 members unanimously agreed to condemn the acts of violence that have taken place and decided to send a strong message of solidarity.

“The FIFA Council also reiterated that football should not and should never become a hostage of politics and always remain ... a force of good uniting people rather than dividing,” Infantino said.

The meeting Friday included delegates from Russia, whose national and club teams have been suspended from international competitions since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The legal argument put by FIFA and UEFA was the refusal of other European teams to play Russians would cause chaos in competitions.

Israel has played in UEFA competitions as a member since 1994 and no European federation has refused to play its teams.

MACRON REVEALS PLAB B IF SECURITY RISK TOO HIGH FOR PARIS OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY SEINE

Construction is underway at the Trocadéro gardens, ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony which will be held on the Seine. Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Paris. AURELIEN MORISSARD / AP

 French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, April 15, the Paris Olympics opening ceremony could move from the river Seine to a different site in the event of a security threat. Macron said in an interview with BFMTV and RMC that instead of teams sailing down the Seine on barges, the ceremony could be "limited to the Trocadéro," across the river from the Eiffel Tower, or "even moved to the Stade de France."

The Paris organizers have devised a ceremony that is unprecedented in Olympic history as it breaks from the tradition of opening the Games in the main stadium. However, despite war raging in Ukraine and in Gaza, organizers have so far denied the ceremony on July 26 could be moved to a different venue if it is targeted.

"This opening ceremony... is a world first. We can do it and we are going to do it," Macron said. But, he added, "there are Plan Bs and Plan Cs", including moving the ceremony to the Stade de France to the north of Paris. "We will analyze this in real time," Macron added.

He also said he would do "everything possible" to have an Olympic truce during the Games. The truce is a historic tradition that peace reigns during the Olympics. "We want to work towards an Olympic truce and I think it is an occasion for me to engage with a lot of our partners," he said.

First Olympic opening outside a stadium

The July 26 event is set to be the first Olympic opening ceremony held outside a stadium setting. About 10,500 athletes will parade through the heart of the French capital on boats on the Seine along a 6-kilometer route.

To limit security risks, Macron said organizers could decide to shorten the itinerary of the parade on the Seine, and even to "repatriate the ceremony to the Stade de France" for a more conventional opening event.

Organizers had originally planned a grandiose opening ceremony for as many as 600,000 people, most watching free of charge from riverbanks. But security and logistical concerns have led the government to progressively scale back its ambitions. Earlier this year, the overall number of spectators was reduced to around 300,000.

The French government also decided that tourists won't be given free access to watch the opening ceremony because of security concerns. Free access will be invitation-only instead.

-  Le Monde with AP, AFP

AUSTRALIA TO PLAY PALESTINIAN MEN'S SOCCER IN PERTH IN JUNE

 SYDNEY (AP) — Soccer Australia said Tuesday that the Socceroos will play the Palestinian men's soccer team in Perth, Western Australia on June 11 in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

Australia has a 2-0 record in Group I in the second round of Asian qualifying while the Palestinian team has a draw and a loss.

The loss was 1-0 to Australia when the Palestinian side was forced to play a “home” game in Kuwait in November due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It was originally scheduled for the West Bank.

Players on the Australian team, before the start of the Kuwait match, donated a portion of their fees towards humanitarian causes in Gaza.

KAA GENT AND ISRAELI SIDE MACCABI HAIFA WILL MEET WITH NO FANS OVER FEARS GAZA-RELATED TROUBLE 😵‍💫

 

BRUSSELS (AP) — A soccer match between KAA Gent and Maccabi Haifa scheduled next month in Belgium should be played without fans because of fears of serious riots linked to the Israel-Hamas war, local authorities have ruled.

According to Belgian media reports, Ghent mayor Mathias De Clercq took the decision on the advice of local police.

Gent will host the Israeli club on Feb. 21 in the second leg of their Conference League playoff.

“Based on police information, serious problems are expected,” said Thomas Dierckens, a spokesperson for Mayor De Clercq, as quoted by Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

“The KAA Gent Arena has no outer perimeter, which makes control difficult, and there is a good chance that public order in and around the stadium will be disrupted. This not only has consequences for the safety of fans and players, but also sporting consequences," he said. "If the match is stopped for more than half an hour due to disruption, UEFA will give KAA Gent a forfeit score of 0-5.”

TURKEY CHARGES ISRAELI SOCCER PLAYER WITH INSISTING HATRED FOR SHOWING SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA HOSTAGES

AP

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish authorities on Monday charged Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel with inciting hatred after he expressed solidarity with people held hostage by the Hamas militant organization during a top-flight league game. He was released from custody pending trial.

The Antalyaspor player had been detained for questioning late Sunday after he displayed a bandage on his wrist with the words “100 Days 7.10” — in reference to Oct. 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel and the hostages were abducted — next to a Star of David.

The 28-year-old Israeli international told police he was simply calling for an end to the war.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said late Sunday that Jehezkel was under investigation for “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility.” Tunc maintained in a statement posted on X that Jehezkel had engaged in “an ugly gesture in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza.”

The gesture was deemed to be provocative in Turkey where there is widespread public opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and overwhelming support for the Palestinians.

Antalyaspor suspended Jehezkel from the team and announced that it was speaking to the club’s lawyers about the possibility of terminating his contract.

The player was expected to return to Israel later in the day on a private jet together with members of his family, private NTV television reported.

FIFA PRESIDENT INFANTINO OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO IN LETTER TO ISRAEL AND PALESTINE FA'S

Reuters 

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the Israel and Palestine Football Associations on Friday, offering his condolences over the "horrendous violence" in the past week in a conflict that has taken over 2,700 lives so far.

Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their attack on Saturday. In response, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza so far, authorities there said.

PALESTINE FOOTBALL TEAM QUITS MALAYSIA CUP OVER ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICT

AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: The Palestine football team has pulled out of a tournament in Malaysia, the Southeast Asian nation's football association said on Tuesday (Oct 10), citing the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants.

Israel has been left reeling by an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants who stormed the Gaza border under a barrage of rocket fire last Saturday morning and killed more than 900 people.

In response, Israel has imposed a total siege on the coastal enclave and is carrying out a massive air and artillery bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed at least 687 people.