28 May 2026; Nathan Collins of Republic of Ireland, hidden, celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Game, net and match - return of tennis to Dublin 4 makes a bit of a racket
Cathal Dervan, Editor
The protestors made their point - or points given tennis balls were their weapons of choice - as ball throwing made its return to the Aviva Stadium for the first time in seven years and did something to brighten up an otherwise dull end of season, start of summer friendly.
‘Stop The Game’ was the catalyst as those tennis balls rained down on the South Stand end of the pitch in both the 10th and 20th minutes of an otherwise forgettable night of international football in Dublin 4.
That’s ‘Stop The Game against Israel’ just in case you have been basking in the sunshine on a remote island off the West Coast for the last week or so as Irish players became political pawns in the eyes of the media and Seamus Coleman found himself with no choice but to criticise how the bumbling FAI have handled the whole Israeli crisis, how they have thrown the players into the firing line.
Last night the players were again in the line of fire as those tennis balls, draped in the colours of the Palestine national flag, descended on them and brought attention to the cause - or made their point in other words.
They also triggered a question or two as the protestors were ejected from the ground and a Stop The Game flag was removed from the West Stand, as captured by the RTE cameras and broadcast during the half-time analysis.
Why was it just the Israeli game that was the inspiration for the first tennis ball protest since fans demanded the sacking of the FAI Board way back in 2019 as the proverbial hit the fan?
Why did nobody bat an eyelid about the presence of Qatar in Dublin yet again for a friendly, the nation with a human rights record that is deplorable?
The answer of course is that Qatar aren’t engaging in genocide right now and their sins were barely worth considering never mind worthy of a protest.
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Instead, the Board of the FAI and those who lead the organisation internally were given another reminder that public ire towards those Israel games is growing by the day.
Even Ministers Patrick O’Donovan and Charlie McConalogue confirmed this week that they won’t be going to any match against Israel at the Aviva - despite the FAI claiming they have the full support of the Government to press ahead with a Dublin fixture.
And the FAI suits are clearly losing support for their stance that the home game must be played in Dublin in October. Yes, it must be played under UEFA rules but who says that it has to be played in Ireland, never mind Dublin.
That’s a question that will be raised again in the coming days when the FAI will be hit with a demand for an EGM to discuss this matter from members of the General Assembly.
And they really need to start considering new answers now that the brief tennis season in Ballsbridge is over.
There were other questions raised too last night. Why didn’t we see more substitutions from the Ireland bench - what was the point in Seamus Coleman, Caoimhin Kelleher, Nathan Collins, Jayson Molumby and Troy Parrott playing for as long as they did for example when Mason Melia was barely involved as a late substitute and Killian Phillips, Alex Murphy, Joe Hodge, Adam Brennan, Ed McGinty and Conor Brann were all left on the bench?
Why was Jack Moylan sent-off for a tackle that looked more awkward and mis-timed than malicious?
And the hardest question of all - how can a side as limited as Qatar be going to the World Cup and we will be watching from afar after being 2-0 up in the play-offs away to Czechia?
I know they operate in a different qualifying zone by the way!
But just four years after FIFA ignored the aforementioned Qatari human rights violations and awarded them the World Cup finals, there is little to suggest they will make any impression in America this summer.
And it’s a good job their forwards weren’t asked to throw the tennis balls. They’d have missed the pitch and the game would have carried on in total ignorance of any protest!
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Darryl Geraghty and Cathal Dervan talk through the latest developments in Irish football ahead of the weekend’s LOI fixtures and the international friendlies.
Heimir Hallgrimsson said after Ireland’s 1-0 win over Qatar at the Aviva Stadium that he respects the rights of those fans who twice threw tennis balls onto the pitch in support of the Stop The Game protests around the Israel fixtures scheduled for the autumn.
Protestors draped the tennis balls in Palestine colours as they brought the friendly international to a halt in the 10th and 20th minutes of an otherwise fairly uneventful game.
Only the red card harshly handed out to Jack Moylan just before the break and another headed goal from Nathan Collins, after just five minutes, competed with the tennis ball protest for attention on the night.
And Hallgrimsson, whilst admitting it distracted him, had no issues with those who exercised their right to protest against the ongoing insistence by the FAI board and management team that the Israel Nations League games will be played in September and October.
The Irish Independent quotes Hallgrimsson as saying: “It didn’t bother me very much. We respect the protest.
“Everybody has a right to protest. It just kills a game. If they want to destroy the game for us then, so be it. Obviously it’s not fun to see, especially for (those of) us who are trying to think about the football side.”
The Icelandic native also praised Moylan who followed last month’s hat-trick on his Ireland debut with a red card on his home debut.
Asked about Moylan’s night, he said: “I was really pleased. He was a big loss for us. We opted to go with a back five still and a three in front of them.
“I’m happy for him and he did very well in the time when he was on the pitch. It was a mistake from someone else (the referee).
“He did a brilliant first half. Let’s see how he starts next season in the Championship but the potential is there 100%.”
Sol Campbell scored the only Arsenal goal the last time the Gunners played in the Champions League final - and he’s keeping his fingers crossed that his former club can see the job through second time around after Barcelona won the 2006 decider 2-1.
Campbell told the Guardian’s Donald McRae that Arsenal were due a Premier League title this season, 22 years after he lifted the trophy with the Invincibles. And that success can act as an inspiration in Budapest on Saturday night.
He added: “They’ve got a wonderful group of players and a great manager in Mikel Arteta but having come so close three times on the bounce I felt these guys needed it.
“The wait has been so heavy and it was all pent up, building year after year, always coming so close but never getting over the line. That’s why you saw such an outpouring of joy and togetherness. It’s been incredible because we’ve been waiting such a long time.
“You need to strike while the iron’s hot. You don’t know when you’re going to have that same beautiful run to the final. We’ve got an incredible defence, they’ve got incredible forwards, but after winning the league there is slightly less pressure on Arsenal. It’s still not going to be easy.
“It would be incredible if we can get a 3-2 win. But we’ve g
Ireland under 21 international Kevin Zefi is ready to kickstart his career by securing a regular first team spot at Sligo Rovers after a deal to play with the Showgrounds club until the end of the season.
One of the country’s top rated young players a few seasons ago, Zefi knows he needs to take his chance under new boss John Russell as he prepares to make his debut at home to Bohs on Friday night after spells with Inter and Roma in Italy.
The RTE website quotes Zefi as saying: “John Russell gave me a huge opportunity to come up here and train with the team. This place feels like home straight away and I feel I’m settling in already. Once the offer was there, signing wasn’t really a question.”
Neymar’s return to international football may be delayed after the World Cup bound Brazilian superstar was ruled out for two to three weeks with a calf injury.
Friendlies against Panama and Egypt have already been ruled for the 34-year-old who last played for his country in late 2023 but was recalled for the World Cup by boss Carlo Ancelloti.
The BBC reports that Neymar is doubtful for Brazil’s opening World Cup Group C game on June 13th against Morocco in New Jersey but could return to play against Haiti and Scotland.
The Scottish FA have rewarded Steve Clarke for guiding his country to the World Cup finals with a contract extension that will run all the way to the end of 2030.
RTE reports that Clarke said: “I am truly honoured to lead my squad into our first men’s World Cup in 28 years and I’m proud to continue as head coach.”
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