Why are Ireland vs Israel football matches so controversial?

When European football’s governing body announced the schedule for its upcoming Nations League competition in February, one fixture became an instant point of contention.The Republic of Ireland and Israel were allocated the same group in League B of the UEFA Nations League 2026-27, provoking strong opposition from Irish fans, footballers and celebrities due to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. It also led to calls for a boycott of the fixture regardless of the consequences.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3The return of Palestinian football: ‘We are a people who must live’list 2 of 3‘It’s our time to shine’: India’s surfers look to make waves at Asian Gameslist 3 of 3Migrants ‘are not to blame’: How the Ceuta crisis engulfed Spanish footballend of listSeven months on, the Ireland vs Israel game is expected to be played as scheduled but amid vociferous criticism, louder calls for Irish football officials not to send a team to the game and bitter Israeli responses to the backlash.What’s happening between Ireland and Israel?They will play two matches in the space of eight days amid tense political relations and in the face of increasing opposition from the Irish public.The f...