RTE will broadcast the football match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel if it goes ahead later this year, the broadcaster confirmed. RTE's decision is based on its legal obligations to broadcast the match and to support Ireland's national team, according to a statement. The broadcaster distinguished this from its boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, noting that broadcasters operate the selection process for Eurovision and have control over whether to take part, whereas for football matches, the decision to play rests with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
The FAI has confirmed that the Ireland team will play the matches, with the October 4 match due to be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. FAI CEO David Courell said that Ireland had 'no choice' but to play, given the threat of sanctions from UEFA. The FAI's stance has drawn criticism from activists and some politicians who argue that playing Israel amounts to supporting what they call genocide in Gaza.
If the match goes ahead – and that is a decision for the FAI as the relevant national sporting body – RTE will broadcast it in line with its contractual and therefore binding legal obligations and of course our overall commitment to supporting Ireland’s national teams.
Political figures have weighed in on the controversy. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the matches should go ahead and urged people to separate the government of Israel from its people. Irish deputy premier Simon Harris said RTE may find itself in 'legal difficulty' if it did not broadcast the matches. Their positions align with the government's view that sporting events should not be politicized, but opponents argue that football cannot be separated from the context of war.
Opposition to the match has been vocal. Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney wrote to RTE to ask it not to broadcast either match. The Stop The Game campaign, backed by artists including Kneecap, The Mary Wallopers, Fontaines D.C. and Annie Mac, argues that playing Israel supports genocide. The campaign has gained traction on social media, with many public figures and football fans calling for Ireland to boycott the match.
In essence, the decisions regarding participation by Ireland’s national soccer team in any tournament are the responsibility of the appropriate official national sporting body – in this case the FAI.
In protest of the controversial match, many have reposted a video featuring footage from previous football matches spliced with clips of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The video states: 'In the last 30 months, Israel has killed 565 Palestinian footballers in Gaza. Playing Israel is supporting Genocide.' The video has been widely shared, amplifying calls for a boycott.
Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr criticized the FAI's stance, telling Virgin Media that separating football and politics was 'baloney' and that this is an opportunity for the FAI to make a stance for the Palestinian people. Kerr's comments reflect a broader sentiment among critics who believe the FAI should take a moral stand rather than prioritize sporting obligations.
Decisions relating to the broadcast of these events are therefore dependent on such decisions.
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) wrote in a statement on Instagram: 'We cannot play the representatives of a state committing genocide against the Palestinian people.' The IPSC has been a leading voice in the campaign to boycott the match, arguing that participation normalizes Israel's actions.
Several unknowns remain. It is unclear whether the match will actually take place as scheduled on October 4, as the FAI has not disclosed what specific sanctions UEFA would impose if Ireland boycotted. The exact legal obligation RTE cites for broadcasting the match has not been detailed, and it is unknown how many Irish football fans support a boycott versus wanting the match to proceed. The FAI has not confirmed whether it has received any official communication from UEFA regarding the match.
RTE’s decision in this case is different to RTE’s decision regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, which is owned and run by the EBU, for one main reason.
The controversy highlights a deep political divide in Ireland over how to respond to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The government and FAI prioritize legal and sporting obligations, while activists and some artists argue for a moral stance. As the match date approaches, the debate is likely to intensify, with both sides digging in.
In that case, it is national public service broadcasters/media (PSMs) who operate the selection process to decide which song/artist will represent their country in the contest and therefore it is entirely the decision of the PSM whether to take part or not.
In Ireland, the responsibility obviously falls to RTE as Ireland’s national PSM, and a member of the EBU.
So, RTE was able to make an independent decision on both participation and broadcasting of the Eurovision.
We cannot play the representatives of a state committing genocide against the Palestinian people.