Two stoppages cut through Ireland’s 2-2 Nations League draw with Austria in Dublin on Thursday night as spectators staged demonstrations in support of Palestine ahead of Ireland’s second meeting with Israel this week.
The match at the Aviva Stadium was first halted around the 19th minute when tennis balls carrying stickers in the colours of the Palestinian flag were thrown onto the pitch. Both sets of players left the field briefly while the surface was cleared, before play resumed.
A second interruption followed in the 35th minute, when a man entered the pitch holding a Palestinian flag. The game was paused again before security restored order and the contest continued, eventually ending level at 2-2.
Protests follow Ireland’s Israel fixture
The events in Dublin came after controversy surrounding Ireland’s Nations League match against Israel on Sunday. Ireland had considered refusing to play in protest at Israel’s war in Gaza, but the squad ultimately took part in the fixture, held in Hungary in front of an almost empty stadium.
Ireland won that match 3-0. Their players wore black armbands, while the captains did not exchange handshakes or pennants before kick-off.
Ireland will face Israel again on Sunday, with the return fixture to be played at a neutral venue in Serbia. The Irish federation decided that staging the match on the island of Ireland would be too sensitive.
