Arabic version: تأجيل استعدادات مباراة أيرلندا أمام إسرائيل بفعل ضغوط المقاطعة

According to Al Jazeera, Ireland’s news conference and training session before its first Nations League match against Israel were delayed as calls for the team to boycott the fixtures intensified. The game is scheduled for Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary, where Israel’s “home” match will be played.

Journalists in Debrecen were told the Ireland news conference would be moved until after training just 15 minutes before it had been due to start. The training session was then significantly delayed, with Irish broadcaster RTE reporting that players remained at their hotel more than two hours after training had been scheduled to begin.

RTE reported that some players had decided they did not want to play. Reporter Tony O’Donoghue told RTE Radio 1 that if the squad maintained its ambition to be united, “if one or more want to be out, maybe they will all be out.” Ireland midfielder Jason Knight said after Thursday’s 1-0 loss in Kosovo that the players faced a difficult situation and that he did not think the matches should go ahead.

Ireland is also due to host Israel on October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia. The Football Association of Ireland has resisted boycott calls, saying UEFA could impose punishing sanctions. More than 160 Irish sportspeople signed an open letter asking the association to reconsider, while protesters demonstrated outside the team hotel in Dublin last week. Former Ireland coach Brian Kerr said the FAI had lost public respect by proceeding with the games.