RTÉ releases statement regarding broadcast of upcoming Ireland v Israel UEFA match

RTÉ have given a statement regarding the broadcast of the upcoming Ireland v Israel UEFA Nations League match.

Ireland was drawn to play against Israel with the home leg scheduled at Dublin's Aviva Stadium sparking widespread controversy because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, particularly the humanitarian crises in Gaza.

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Supporters have argued that playing the match gives legitimacy to Israel's involvement in international sport while committing genocide and war crimes in Palestine.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) however argue that sport should be separate from political disputes and that Ireland is obligated to fulfil its fixtures under UEFA rules.

The FAI have already confirmed that Ireland will play both matches and that cancelling the games could have "serious sporting consequences", including losing points, relegation in Nations League standings, weaker seeding for Euro 2028 qualification and harm to Ireland's FIFA ranking.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan have also publicly backed the decision to proceed, stressing that there is no official state boycott of Israel and that sporting ties should be distinguished from political issues.

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Now RTÉ have released a statement after questions arose whether the State broadcaster would air the matches,. 

The statement reads,

“If the match goes ahead – and that is a decision for the FAI as the relevant national sporting body – RTÉ will broadcast it in line with its contractual and therefore binding legal obligations and of course our overall commitment to supporting Ireland’s national teams.

"In essence, the decisions regarding participation by Ireland’s national soccer team in any tournament are the responsibility of the appropriate official national sporting body – in this case the FAI. Decisions relating to the broadcast of these events are therefore dependent on such decisions.

"RTÉ’s decision in this case is different to RTÉ’s decision regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, which is owned and run by the EBU, for one main reason.

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"In that case, it is national public service broadcasters/media (PSM’s) who operate the selection process to decide which song/artist will represent their country in the Contest and therefore it is entirely the decision of the PSM whether to take part or not.

"In Ireland, the responsibility obviously falls to RTÉ as Ireland’s national PSM, and a member of the EBU. So, RTÉ was able to make an independent decision on both participation and broadcasting of the Eurovision.”