Aviva Stadium in Dublin hosted a pro-Palestinian protest ahead of Sunday’s match between Ireland and Israel. In the 20th minute of the UEFA Nations League match between Ireland and Austria, fans threw hundreds of tennis balls onto the pitch, temporarily halting play.
Some of the tennis balls carried Palestinian flags and tags reading “Stop the game.” The action was organised by the Ireland Sports for Palestine campaign, which is calling for the planned match between Ireland and Israel not to be played.
The match resumed after security personnel removed the balls from the pitch. At around the 35th minute, another fan entered the field of play carrying a Palestinian flag and was escorted out by security personnel.
Ireland and Austria increase their points
Ireland went into halftime with a 2-0 lead after Troy Parrott scored twice in the first half. Austria then levelled the score in the second half through goals from Alexander Prass and Michael Gregoritsch.
After the match ended 2-2, Ireland increased its points tally to 4, while leaders Austria moved to 7 points. Israel sits at the bottom of the group with 1 point.
Calls continue ahead of Israel match
The previous match between Ireland and Israel, played in Debrecen, Hungary, ended in a 3-0 victory for Ireland. Irish players wore black armbands, lowered their heads during the Israeli national anthem and did not take part in the traditional handshake between the teams before the match.
Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had withdrawn from the squad because of his personal stance against playing in the match against Israel. Bazunu returned to the national team before the Austria match.
Calls to cancel or boycott Ireland’s second match against Israel continue. The “Stop the Game” campaign has called on the players and coaching staff not to take part in the match and announced that it would continue its protests.
The match between Ireland and Israel will be played behind closed doors on Sunday in Bačka Topola, Serbia, for security reasons.
