LAST UPDATE | 28 May
The 42 reports from Aviva Stadium
THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland’s international friendly with Qatar was halted twice by fans protesting against the Nations League games with Israel.
Tennis balls rained down on the Aviva Stadium pitch from supporters in the upper tiers of the West, East and South Stand.
The tennis balls rain down again and this time there are chants of Free Palestine and Stop The Game. Some fans groan/jeer initially but when it becomes clearer what’s happening there is more applause. pic.twitter.com/ZvUSWEqCPV
— David Sneyd (@DavidSneyd) May 28, 2026
There were also chants of Stop The Game and Free Palestine.
Some fans around those in the West Stand initially jeered what was happening until more realised the protesters’ cause. Others than rose and clapped in support as stewards, security officials and gardaí got involved.
In a statement tonight, a group called League of Ireland Fans for Palestine claimed credit for the disruption. Describing itself as a grassroots coalition of League of Ireland fans, it said wanted to send a “strong message to the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish government that the Nations League fixtures between Ireland and Israel MUST be cancelled”.
The group continued:
“We took this action at the Aviva tonight to show the FAI and the Government that we are serious about stopping the autumn matches.”
It indicated it has more protests planned, adding that there will be “hell to pay for the authorities” if they proceed with the games against Israel later this year.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson spoke about the issue of a boycott on Wednesday and urged the Irish fans not to protest and back their team instead.
The 42 revealed on Wednesday that the FAI looks to face formal opposition from its own membership regarding its stance to fulfil the Nations League fixtures with Israel later this year.
In a letter sent to the 145 delegates of the association’s General Assembly – one of its three core governing pillars representing the professional, amateur and underage game – members are being asked to back a motion which would compel the FAI to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting.
A brief tennis ball protest during a break in play here. Seems a Stop The Game (referring to Israel boycott) was also hung over the side where the balls came from. pic.twitter.com/yyNusuz75i
— David Sneyd (@DavidSneyd) May 28, 2026
The correspondence, seen by The 42, wants to bring forward a motion as soon as possible calling on the FAI to refuse to participate in the two scheduled games against Israel “on both legal and moral grounds”.
The motion has been proposed by the Professional Footballers’ Association Ireland (PFAI), Irish Football Supporters Partnership (IFSP), CK United, Cork City and Bohemian FC.
Ireland are due to play Israel on neutral territory on 27 September, followed by a meeting in Dublin on 4 October.
Written by David Sneyd and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.