UEFA explains draw rules after Ireland’s request — Cyprus Mail
UEFA told Ireland that decisions on keeping national teams apart during draws are made separately in each case, primarily in view of security risks. As Cyprus Mail reports, the statement came after the Football Association of Ireland said its request to avoid pairing Ireland with Israel in the future had been rejected.
UEFA’s position
Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said the organization approached UEFA after the February Nations League draw, which made Ireland and Israel opponents. UEFA said requests to avoid meetings between certain teams are considered individually.
According to UEFA, several factors are taken into account in such decisions, including circumstances in relations between countries that may create structural security risks. Courell said the association was told that such separation was impossible because Ireland and Israel had never been in direct conflict.
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Reaction from the Israeli association
Israel Football Association communications chief Shlomi Barzel questioned whether UEFA had received an official request. In a comment to Reuters, he said the question should be addressed to UEFA, while the Israeli side is focused on the team’s professional preparation for the matches.
The national teams’ Nations League matches are scheduled for September 27 and October 4. The match in which Ireland will formally be the home side is to be held behind closed doors in Bačka Topola, Serbia, rather than Dublin, on October 4. Irish fans will also not receive tickets for the match in which Israel will be the formal home side, in Debrecen, Hungary.
Last November, members of the Football Association of Ireland voted by a majority to support an appeal to the board asking UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions. In May, Irish footballers and show business representatives joined a campaign to boycott Ireland’s home Nations League match.
