"The Republic of Ireland will fulfil their Nations League fixtures with Israel due to the potential of disqualification, says the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Israel were drawn with the Republic of Ireland, Austria and Kosovo in League B3 in Thursday's draw. In November, the FAI overwhelmingly approved a motion to call on Uefa to ban Israel from European club and international competitions."
"In a statement following the draw, the FAI said it had consulted with Uefa and sanctions for not fulfilling a fixture could lead to disqualification from the Nations League. In September, there were reports Uefa may hold a vote on whether to suspend Israel from club and international competition. However, such a move never materialised and any prospect of that happening receded after the announcement of the Israel-Hamas peace plan for Gaza in October."
"When asked about having to deal with possible implications of the Israel fixture, Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said "it's not my job". "That's not my job, my job is to focus on the football side and I'm going to do that," Hallgrimsson told BBC Sport in Brussels."
"In November, the FAI approved a motion to call on Uefa to ban Israel from European club and international competitions for "violating two independent provisions of the Uefa statutes". The "violations" cited were the "organisation of clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association" and a "failure to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy"."
The Republic of Ireland will fulfil Nations League fixtures with Israel to avoid potential disqualification. Israel was drawn in League B3 with Ireland, Austria and Kosovo. The FAI consulted with Uefa and warned that failing to fulfil fixtures could result in disqualification. The FAI previously voted to request Uefa suspend Israel for alleged breaches, including organisation of clubs in occupied West Bank settlements and inadequate anti-racism enforcement. Reports of a possible Uefa suspension emerged in September but did not materialise after the announcement of an Israel-Hamas peace plan for Gaza. Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said handling political implications is not his job.
Read at www.bbc.com
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