8 July 2026; Peamount United players, from left, Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Ruby Gallagher, Priya Doyle and Kaitlyn Delahunt walk out to warm up before the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division match between Peamount United and DLR Waves at Greenogue Park in Newcastle, Dublin. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
We can all get back to the World Cup now that the latest unnecessary division in Irish football has been put to rest
Cathal Dervan, Editor
There is a very disturbing video doing the rounds today on social media as some of those clearly opposed to Ireland playing Israel in a football match, verbally engage with the President of the Football Association of Ireland on a South Dublin street.
The video was shot on a camera phone, by a protestor presumably, as Paul Cooke made his way home from the EGM of the FAI which had earlier voted to support the FAI’s right to carry on with playing the home Nations League game against Israel in Serbia.
The meeting also, or so the Board claimed in a statement afterwards, confirmed the right of the Directors to make football decisions on behalf of Irish football, if you follow, as the feud over playing Israel at all continues at pace.
Hands up - Paul Cooke is a friend of mine. He is also a former boss of mine from my time in the media. And I was one of the people who persuaded him to return to the FAI post the crisis that engulfed the game in the spring of 2019. So we are connected - but we are not always in agreement.
8 July 2026; FAI chief executive officer David Courell, left, FAI President Paul Cooke and FAI independent chairperson Tony Keohane, right, during an FAI Extraordinary General Meeting at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The EGM was convened to vote on a motion regarding Republic of Ireland's upcoming Nations League fixtures with Israel. The FAI board's motion reads ""While acknowledging the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine and the upcoming UEFA Men's Nations League fixtures, that the members recognise the profound impact that any non-fulfilment of UEFA fixtures would have on Irish football as a whole and on its future development, and accordingly endorses the Association fulfilling its obligations in respect of those fixtures." Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
I don’t share his convictions around the need to proceed with this Israel game - although I do understand why the FAI have to play it, no matter where they play. Them’s the rules as they say.
Where we disagree is with how the FAI have handled this debacle ever since the draw was made in Amsterdam back in February when Paul and his CEO walked by the Irish media that day and refused to comment. First mistake, in my view.
Since then they have caught themselves up in web after web of confusion, allegations and sheer discourse as Irish football goes on a civil war footing again - a needless situation which could have been so easily cast aside back in February.
Back then the FAI needed the foresight that is sadly lacking from the current administration. They should have stopped and spoken, they should have taken a week out to talk to all stakeholders - players to fans to government to opposition nations - and then announced what they were going to do. Get it done early and with foresight. Now we are all relying on hindsight which is always easy - in hindsight!
I’d have announced in February, after consultation, that the home match against Israel would go ahead on neutral ground unless the FAI were instructed otherwise by UEFA, the Government or the Gardai. Make the decision, get it done and let the pressure pass on to UEFA who have got away with no little or no implication or accountability in all of this so far.
It’s UEFA who should really be held accountable for allowing Israel to play in their competitions at all. It’s UEFA who should have all the testosterone and the savvy to know when it is right to ban a country for war crimes, never mind for breaking their own UEFA statutes.
But the FAI dillied and dallied back in February and now Irish football is divided again and the President is getting attacked in the street.
He’s a grown man and, trust me, he is well capable of fighting his own battles so to speak. But he does not deserve to be confronted in a street near the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night as the social media post suggests he was.
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The Stop The Game movement should be bigger and better than that. They won’t go away on the back of this vote and nor should they, given the power of their convictions.
Likewise, the FAI need to accept that this vote won’t resolve the Israel issue. They need to work together now with their opponents and put the pressure on UEFA to resolve this before the players get dragged into it all come September.
It is not fair on any young player to put them into this situation. Everyone needs to accept that and move on - before it is too late and the home against Austria on October 1st becomes another tennis match.
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The key stories developing today
The FAI has welcomed the vote by EGM delegates to endorse the Board’s decision to fulfill Ireland’s Uefa Nations League fixtures against Israel later this year and to play the home leg in Serbia.
A contentious EGM of the Association at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday evening saw a heated debate followed by a vote on the motion which was passed by 75 votes to 32 with three abstentions.
The Irish Times reports that In a statement following the vote, the FAI thanked its members for: “Endorsing its responsibility to fulfil its obligations. The result provides the FAI Board with the support to continue making decisions in the interest of Irish football.”
Ireland midfielder Mark Sykes has made a Championship switch from Bristol City to Millwall according to the BBC, with the 28-year-old Belfast native signing a two-year deal at The Dell.
“We’re delighted to welcome Mark Sykes to the club,” said Steve Gallen, Millwall’s Director of Football. “Mark is a proven, experienced Championship player with senior international caps to his name and he brings genuine versatility to our squad.
Celtic have arrived at their Portugal training camp with former England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain first up for media duties when he confirmed he was delighted to sign a new one-year deal with Martin O’Neill’s side.
The Irish Independent quotes from a club interview when the midfielder said: “I’m really excited. I’m just delighted that it’s been able to get done and excited to come in at the start of this season to feel like I’ve got a proper season with the boys and a pre-season. I’m looking forward to getting going.”
Caoimhin Kelleher’s old club Ringmahon Rangers have been hit with a five year suspension from the FAI Cup and a €5000 fine by the League of Ireland in a swift response to their recent decision to withdraw from the competition.
Ringmahon were due to host Bohemians in the third round tie next week but RTE reports that they have now been punished heavily after deciding to forgo the fixture due to concerns about attendance figures amid a potential clash with the All-Ireland hurling final - which Cork then failed to qualify for!
New midfielder Nick Twisk will go straight into the Derry City squad for their Europa League opener away to CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old Holland underage international arrives from AZ Alkmaar and the Belfast Telegraph reports that he has been registered in time to feature in Thursday night’s first qualifying round first leg tie.
