Subscriber OnlyLetters

FAI caught between a right and a great wrong

Association damned if it goes ahead with the fixture against Israel and damned if it doesn’t

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Tue Feb 17 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir,

I don’t envy the Football Association of Ireland, caught between a right and a great wrong. Play and be damned, don’t play and be damned.

If the final decision is to play, the FAI could soften the blow to supporters by donating the entire takings from the fixture to Palestinian humanitarian relief and to families of Israeli victims of 7 October 2023. The total gate, advertising, programme and TV receipts (with no freebies so everyone going to the match contributes) would probably exceed €6 million. It would make a real difference.

The gesture would remind Uefa also that its decisions with respect to eligibility for its competitions can have surprising consequences.

READ MORE

Introducing The Daily Eight: A new eight-clue Irish Times crossword

Jesse Jackson obituary: A trailblazer who helped open the door to a black presidency

Téada’s quarter-century: Tips on non-iron shirts, after-show selfies and 23 other parts of life on the road

All Together Now 2026: Pulp and Underworld among 60 new acts in line-up

Yours etc,

MICHAEL HAMELL,

Dublin 9.

[ Ireland v Israel match should proceed in Dublin, says Minister of State ]