Uefa rejects FAI request to separate Ireland from Israel
FAI chief David Courell says Uefa refused to keep Ireland and Israel apart in draws, as the sides prepare to meet in Nations League fixtures on 27 September and 4 October.
Uefa has turned down a request from the Football Association of Ireland to keep the Republic of Ireland and Israel apart in future draws, FAI chief executive David Courell said on Friday.
The two were drawn together in the Nations League in February and meet on 27 September and 4 October. Ireland's home leg on 4 October will be played behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, rather than at the Aviva Stadium, while Israel's "home" fixture in Debrecen, Hungary, will go ahead without Irish supporters.
Courell said the FAI raised the separation request with Uefa after the February draw, and got a clear answer back.
"The response was pretty clear. They have a formal term for it, I can't remember the formal term, the 'do not draw' list or whatever. It's based, really, on conflicts, direct conflicts, not public sentiment," said Courell. "The answer I got was very clear. That would not be possible, because Ireland and Israel have never been in direct conflict. That was an answer that I took at face value."
FAI delegates backed a motion in July to fulfil the fixtures despite calls for a boycott, arguing that pulling out would cause "significant and lasting harm" to the association. The decision has drawn further pressure since, with the 'Stop the Game' campaign from Irish Sport for Palestine pushing for the games to be scrapped.
Uefa has not yet responded to Courell's comments.
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