Republic of Ireland to play Israel behind closed doors in Serbia due to security concerns

Israel supporters will be in attendance when their side face the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League next month but no away fans will be facilitated.

Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, both games between the sides in Group B3 will be played at neutral venues, with Israel the designated home team at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen in Hungary on 27 September, where a "small allocation" of their supporters will be permitted to attend.

The reverse fixture will be played in Serbia and the Football Association of Ireland [FAI] has confirmed that game on October 4 will be played entirely behind closed doors.

"The association appreciates the passion and commitment that Ireland supporters always show when following its teams around the world, but operational challenges and safety and security concerns led to this decision being made," said an FAI statement.

"The Israel Football Association have confirmed that a small allocation of its own supporters will be accommodated for their home game in Debrecen, Hungary."

The FAI has faced calls to boycott both games but in June said to do so would have "a profound impact on the whole of Irish football".

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

Since the start of the war, at least 73,377 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.

Protests have taken place outside the Dail [Irish parliament] pressing for a boycott of the games.

A friendly with Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in May was also twice disrupted when tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag were thrown on to the pitch, while a 'Stop the Game' campaign has been launched by the group Irish Sport for Palestine.