FAI unclear on possible 'undetermined' sanctions if Ireland had not played Israel

FAI president Paul Cooke said the Republic of Ireland could have faced "undetermined" sanctions if they had not played their Nations League match against Israel on Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary. He made the comments after Ireland's win.

The tie has been controversial since the two sides were drawn together in Group B3 in February, with calls for Republic of Ireland players to withdraw because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. A "Stop The Game" campaign organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine gathered pace ahead of the fixtures. The dispute has centred on whether players and the association should participate in the scheduled Nations League meetings.

Cooke addressed the possibility of extra punishment when questioned about Uefa's stance, saying: "No," he told RTE Sport when asked is Uefa threatened additional sanctions if one or both of the matches were not fulfilled. "The rules are clear. It specifies if we don't fulfil the fixtures what the sanctions are and then there's reference to other sanctions undetermined. "I think it depends on Uefa and what sanctions they levy on somebody as a result of it. We saw a recent thing in England and Southampton, the levies that were levied on them [expelled from the English Championship play-offs after admitting spying on opponents]."

Players from both teams did not engage in the usual pre-match handshakes and the Irish squad bowed their heads when Israel's anthem was played before the contest. There was no exchange of pennants between Republic of Ireland captain Dara O'Shea and Israel skipper Manor Solomon, who did not shake hands. The match finished as a Republic of Ireland victory in Hungary.

There was doubt on Saturday morning whether the fixture would take place, with players locked in a meeting back at their hotel after it emerged goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the game in protest and several other players expressed concerns about fielding. The FAI later confirmed a players' vote passed by a "significant majority" to play the game. That internal decision cleared the way for the team to take the field on Sunday.

Cooke, who praised the players and manager Heimir Hallgrimsson after the victory, defended how the FAI dealt with the build-up to the controversial match. "Some people think it was quite well handled. "We said all along that we would play the game. That was mandated through us by our members, through the board, and we've fulfilled one of the fixtures now thanks to the courage of those players who played tonight and togged out."

Cooke was also asked about Uefa's response to an FAI letter sent last November which proposed Israel's expulsion from international and club competitions. "Their response was that they'd consider it and they're still considering it," he said. He added that he had spoken with the other countries in the group — Austria and Kosovo — over potential sanctions: "I've certainly spoken to the other countries in our group and they reaffirmed their decisions to play the games."

The second Nations League fixture between the sides is scheduled for 4 October in the Serbian town of Backa Topola. Both Nations League fixtures are being played at neutral venues.