The Republic of Ireland players have discussed releasing a statement on the Nations League matches against Israel in September and October, in response to the growing number of protests from within the Irish football community against the fixtures going ahead.The friendly against Qatar at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday was interrupted on three occasions in the first half as a group called League of Ireland Fans for Palestine threw tennis balls with “Stop the Game” branding on to the pitch.“If Russia is banned, then I don’t see the difference why Israel shouldn’t be banned,” Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson told Off The Ball on Thursday night, reiterating his stance from last October. “But I need to talk about the football side.”It is apparent the Ireland players and coaches will continue to be asked about the game unless the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) egm that was secured by members of the general assembly on Friday leads to an overturning of the FAI’s intention to fulfil the Israel fixtures. If a motion to the egm is successful and is accepted by the FAI executive, Ireland will refuse to play Israel at a neutral venue on September 27th and at the Aviva on October 4th, citing “both legal and moral grounds”. It was proposed by the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland, Irish Football Supporters Partnership, CK United, Cork City and Bohemians.Following the protests on Thursday, Hallgrímsson remained steadfast in his view that the games should go ahead due to the detrimental impact a boycott could have on the men’s senior team.“I don’t think we should boycott the games,” he said. “Number one, it would cost us. We’d probably be relegated to League C. Future national teams will suffer.“But most of all we are giving [Israel] gifts. We are giving them six points, six-zero in goal difference, and they will most likely win the Nations League group if we do that. Then they have easier access to come and play in the finals [Euro 2028] in Ireland.”The Aviva will host six matches at the European Championships in 2028, four group games, one Last-16 game and a quarter-final.“I’m just saying, this is the football side,” Hallgrímsson continued. “The feelings of the [Irish] people, we understand and respect. And if the decision is made from higher up, then we have to respect that.“But we are the football players, we are coaches. This is from a political level and those who are in Government should take these decisions. “Ireland is part of the EU so we need to go by the rules that are set. We are a part of Uefa and Fifa, and we need to obey the rules there. That is our job. We are not better if we break the rules ourselves.” On whether the FAI, led by chief executive David Courell and president Paul Cooke, can be swayed by the Aviva protesters or leading League of Ireland figures such as Shamrock Rovers captain Pico Lopes and former Ireland manager Brian Kerr calling for the games to be stopped, Hallgrímsson said: “[The FAI] have already said what their stand on this matter is.International Friendly, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 28/5/2026