Chief executive David Courell told reporters one player had told coach Heimir Hallgrímsson he was uncomfortable with the fixture and would withdraw. The squad then voted. “It was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue,” Courell said. “So based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue.”
Ireland had postponed Saturday’s news conference and delayed training in Debrecen while talks continued. The media briefing was due at 10:15 local time; training at 11:00. More than three hours later the team was still in its hotel.
Captain Dara O’Shea had said after Thursday’s 1-0 defeat in Kosovo that the players would meet on Friday to decide how to handle the Israel games.
FAI members voted last November for the board to ask UEFA to suspend Israel. A later EGM in July backed going ahead with the fixtures. Ireland is co-hosting Euro 2028. Courell has cited the risk of sanctions if the team refuses to play.
Israel’s designated home match is in Debrecen on Sunday. Ireland’s return, on 4 October, was moved from Dublin to Bačka Topola, Serbia, and will be played behind closed doors.
Hallgrímsson’s use of the word “genocide” last weekend drew a sharp reply from the Israeli federation, which called the remarks stupid, ignorant and hypocritical. United Nations experts and rights groups have used that term for Israel’s war in Gaza; Israel rejects the allegation.
The game is scheduled to go ahead. One player is out. The rest of the squad, the FAI said, voted to take the field.