BEIRUT: The Palestine Football Association denied on Thursday issuing any statements or commentaries regarding the Football Association of Ireland’s decision to move its UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue.
A PFA statement on X said: “First and foremost, the PFA have not issued any statement endorsing, approving, or supporting the decision to proceed with the match.”
The statement added that any interpretation suggesting that the PFA had given its blessing to the fixture did not accurately reflect the PFA’s position.
The statement, which cited Dima Said, the PFA’s official spokesperson, added: “The PFA maintains a long-standing principle of respecting the autonomy of fellow national associations and refraining from interference in their internal affairs or decision-making processes.”
The FAI, which faced calls by pro-Palestinian activists for a boycott, last Friday said the Oct. 4 game against Israel — originally scheduled for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium — posed “operational challenges.”
The body has confirmed it received UEFA’s approval to move the game. A location has not been announced. The teams are also scheduled to meet on Sept. 27 at a neutral venue for Israel’s “home” game.
The PFA added: “This principle is particularly important to us as an association that has suffered for decades from interference, restrictions, and violations of their rights within the international football system.”
The PFA said it respected the right of every association to determine how they navigated their own sporting, legal, and regulatory obligations, and such respect should not be “misconstrued as endorsement of any particular decision.”
Its spokesperson further stressed that the PFA reiterated its deep appreciation for the “historic solidarity shown by the Irish people and for the principled positions repeatedly expressed by the Football Association of Ireland, Irish clubs, supporters, players, trade unions, civil society organizations, and public representatives in support of Palestinian rights and human dignity.”
The PFA maintained that its position regarding Israeli football remained unchanged and unequivocal.
It added: “The PFA continues to pursue accountability through FIFA and other international sporting bodies for Israel’s persistent violations of FIFA statutes, the systematic obstruction of Palestinian football, and the devastating impact of Israel’s war on all aspects of Palestinian life, including athletes, clubs, facilities, and sporting life.”
Said highlighted that over 1,000 Palestinian athletes had been killed, and large parts of Palestine’s sporting infrastructure destroyed.
Palestinian football was enduring one of the darkest periods in its history, she said.
Said added: “For this reason, the PFA rejects any characterization that could be interpreted as providing political or moral cover for Israel’s continued participation in international football while these grave violations persist.”
The statement confirmed that the PFA would not be a party to any effort that normalized these realities or contributed to the sportswashing of crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
The FAI said last week it had been in close contact with the PFA, which it said had expressed appreciation “for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.”
The organization added that previously it had called on UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions — in protest at Israel’s military action in Gaza.
