The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League meeting with Israel looks set to go ahead as planned this evening.
The controversial match appeared to be in jeopardy on Saturday after Ireland’s scheduled training session and pre-match press conference in Hungary were both significantly delayed.
The Irish players held lengthy talks over the game during a four-hour summit at their team hotel in Debrecen, eventually holding a vote that led to a “significant majority” deciding to proceed with the fixture.
One player is confirmed to have withdrawn from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad for the Group B3 contest that is taking place on neutral ground at Nagyerdei Stadion, with no Irish fans in attendance.
Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Ireland have faced repeated calls to boycott their two matches against Israel during this extended three-week international break as part of the ‘Stop The Game’ campaign led by Irish Sport for Palestine.
However, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have said that refusing to play the games would “cause significant and lasting harm to Irish football”.
Hallgrimsson’s side lost 1-0 to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday in their Nations League opener, a first game since they were ousted by the Czech Republic on penalties in the World Cup play-off semi-finals in March.
Israel lost 3-1 to Austria in Linz in a game in which Sayed Abu Farchi was sent off following his goal celebration after levelling the score in the second half.
Is Ireland vs Israel on TV?
In Ireland, the match is being broadcast live on RTE 2. However, their stripped-back coverage - which still meets their contractual obligations - begins only 10 minutes before kick-off at 7:35pm BST.
RTE have confirmed that they will have no studio presentation, pundits, RTE commentator or half-time analysis, with the commentary to be taken instead from the international feed.
A “minimal technical team” will be deployed, with RTE not taking advertising or sponsorship around the game.
That will also be the case when the two sides meet again in the Serbian town of Backa Topola next Sunday (October 4), in what is technically a “home game” for the Republic of Ireland.
Live coverage is also available via Amazon Prime Video’s pay-per-view service, at a cost of £2.49. That broadcast also begins at 7:35pm on Sunday night.
