UEFA defends draw policy after Ireland request, Israel dismisses FAI comments

FAI chief executive David Courell said the federation was told that its request could not be accepted because Ireland and Israel had not previously been in direct conflict. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

UEFA has defended its decision not to separate Ireland and Israel in future football draws, saying restrictions are imposed only after individual assessments, with player and spectator safety being the primary concern.

The response followed comments from FAI chief executive David Courell, who said Ireland had asked UEFA to prevent future pairings with Israel after the two nations were drawn together in the Nations League earlier this year. They are scheduled to face each other on September 27 and October 4.

UEFA explained that requests to keep teams apart are reviewed according to the circumstances surrounding each case. Officials consider factors such as relations between the countries and the possibility of security threats, while continuing to monitor any changes.

Courell said the FAI was told that the request could not be accepted because Ireland and Israel had not previously been in direct conflict.

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The Israel Football Association disputed the account and questioned whether UEFA had received an official request at all. Its communications director, Shlomi Barzel, said the association was concentrating on preparing for the matches rather than responding to what he described as unfounded comments.

The planned fixtures have become politically sensitive in Ireland because of the wider Middle East conflict. FAI members voted strongly in favour of seeking Israel’s suspension from European competitions last November, while a boycott campaign supported by well-known Irish footballers and celebrities was launched ahead of the May fixture.

Ireland’s home match will be held without spectators in Backa Topola on October 4, and Irish fans will not be allocated tickets for Israel’s home fixture in Debrecen the weekend before.