A Nations League football match between Ireland and Austria in Dublin was twice briefly halted on Thursday due to protests advocating for Palestine.
In the 19th minute, spectators threw tennis balls adorned with Palestinian flag stickers onto the pitch, prompting players to leave the field for a few minutes before play resumed. The match experienced a second interruption in the 35th minute when a man ran onto the pitch waving a Palestinian flag.
The game concluded in a 2-2 draw. Ireland's coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, commented post-match, stating, "You are never happy with this (protests), but understand it and respect it."
These disruptions follow controversy surrounding Ireland's Nations League match against Israel on Sunday. Despite initial discussions about a boycott in protest of the war in Gaza, the Irish players ultimately decided to participate. That match, held in Hungary in a nearly empty stadium, saw Ireland win 3-0. The Irish team wore black armbands, and prior to kick-off, the captains of both teams abstained from the customary handshake and pennant exchange.
The return fixture is scheduled for Sunday, again on neutral territory in Serbia. The Football Association of Ireland had determined that hosting the match domestically would be too sensitive given the prevailing circumstances. On Thursday evening, approximately 200 protesters gathered outside the Dublin Arena as part of a campaign titled "Stop the Game."
"I strongly object to these two games against Israel going ahead, because basically it is sports-washing a genocide, sports are political. And it's happened many, many a time where people have boycotted events," stated Joanne Doyle, a 56-year-old primary school teacher who was among the protesters. Another demonstrator, 26-year-old engineer Mark Coomey, added, "Ireland should not be playing ball with genocide. We've already played one game against genocidal Israel and crossed the Palestinian picket line."
Ireland, in conjunction with Spain and Norway, officially recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 and has consistently voiced criticism of Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict.
