Pro-Palestine protests halt Ireland-Austria match as Israel fixtures draw boycott calls
Protesters threw tennis balls and entered the pitch during Ireland's 2-2 Nations League draw with Austria in Dublin, intensifying pressure over fixtures against Israel.
Protests interrupt first half in Dublin
Ireland's UEFA Nations League match against Austria at Dublin Arena was halted twice during the opening half on Thursday evening. In the 19th minute, spectators hurled tennis balls covered in Palestinian flag stickers and printed with "#StopTheGame" onto the pitch. Referee officials stopped play for four minutes and sent players to the touchline while stadium staff cleared the balls from the turf. Play resumed, but action was interrupted again in the 35th minute when a pitch invader carrying a Palestinian flag evaded security and ran onto the field before being escorted away.
- Troy Parrott scores the opening goal for Ireland.
- Spectators throw tennis balls with Palestinian flag stickers onto the pitch, causing a four-minute delay.
- A pitch invader waving a Palestinian flag interrupts play before being caught by security.
- Troy Parrott converts a penalty to double Ireland's lead to 2-0.
- Alexander Prass scores to reduce Austria's deficit.
- Michael Gregoritsch scores the equalising goal for Austria.
Boycott demands and player actions
The demonstrations were organised by the campaign group "Stop the Game", while the "Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign" coordinated rallies outside the stadium and in other Irish cities. Around 200 protesters gathered outside Dublin Arena calling on the Football Association of Ireland to refuse participation in fixtures against Israel over the ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Demonstrators displayed banners in support of Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who chose to boycott both Nations League matches against Israel. Protesters outside emphasized that sporting events should not be separated from geopolitical stances.
I strongly object to these two games against Israel going ahead, because basically it is sports-washing a genocide, sports are political. And it's happened many, many a time where people have boycotted events.
Relocated fixtures and diplomatic tensions
Ireland officially recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, maintaining a critical stance toward Israeli operations in Gaza. The first fixture between Ireland and Israel took place on the previous Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary, inside a nearly empty stadium after Irish squad members held a vote on Saturday to decide whether to play. Ireland won that match 3-0, with Irish players wearing black armbands to commemorate victims of the conflict and declining both the pre-match handshake and pennant exchange. The return match on Sunday is scheduled to take place behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia, after Irish football authorities concluded that hosting the match in Dublin presented excessive security concerns.
Ireland should not be playing ball with genocide. We've already played one game against genocidal Israel and crossed the Palestinian picket line.
Austria rallies to claim 2-2 draw
On the pitch, Ireland built a two-goal lead before Austria mounted a second-half comeback. Striker Troy Parrott scored the opening goal in the 12th minute and added a second from a penalty shortly before half-time. Austria responded in the second half through Alexander Prass, who scored in the 72nd minute, and Michael Gregoritsch, who levelled the match at 2-2 in the 77th minute. The draw kept Ralf Rangnick's Austria at the top of Group B3. Following the final whistle, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson noted that while managers are never happy with match interruptions, he understood and respected the sentiment behind the protest.
