FAI chief says possible extra sanctions were unclear before Israel match

Football Association of Ireland president Paul Cooke has said the Republic of Ireland could have faced unspecified additional sanctions if they had refused to play Israel in the Nations League. BBC Sport reported his comments after Ireland won 3-0 in Hungary on Sunday, following a disputed build-up and a players’ vote on whether to take part.

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Speaking to RTE Sport, Cooke denied that UEFA had threatened extra penalties if either match between the teams went unplayed. He distinguished between punishments already set out in the rules for failing to fulfil a fixture and references to other, undetermined sanctions. His account left the nature of any additional penalty unresolved; he did not identify a specific further punishment that UEFA had said it would impose.

The fixture had been in doubt on Saturday morning after goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew in protest and other players raised concerns about participating, according to BBC Sport. The squad held a meeting at their hotel. The FAI subsequently said a significant majority had voted to play, allowing the first of the two scheduled meetings to go ahead.

There were no handshakes between the teams before the match, and Ireland’s players lowered their heads during Israel’s national anthem. Captains Dara O’Shea and Manor Solomon also did not exchange pennants. Calls for Ireland to withdraw had come amid the Israel-Gaza war, including a Stop The Game campaign organised by Irish Sport for Palestine.

Cooke defended the association’s handling of the situation and praised the players and manager Heimir Hallgrimsson after the victory. He said the FAI had consistently intended to fulfil the fixtures, with that position mandated through its members and board. Both matches are being staged at neutral venues; the return meeting is scheduled for 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia.

The FAI president also addressed a letter the association sent last November proposing Israel’s exclusion from international and club competitions. He said UEFA had responded that it would consider the proposal and was still doing so. Cooke added that he had spoken to Austria and Kosovo, the other teams in Group B3, and that both had reaffirmed their intention to play their fixtures.