An international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar was interrupted twice on May 28, 2026, due to protests from fans regarding the Nations League games with Israel. Tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch at Aviva Stadium in Dublin from various sections of the stands, as reported by The 42. Fans involved in the protest issued a statement calling for the cancellation of the Nations League fixtures between Ireland and Israel, stating it was a means to deliver a strong message to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the government.
Supporters from multiple League of Ireland clubs participated in the protest, throwing tennis balls marked with the demand to #StopTheGame onto the field. A banner with the same message was displayed prominently, and chants of "Free Palestine" were heard from the crowd. One protester remarked on the implications of playing against a team associated with the Israeli military, citing casualties among athletes and damage to sports facilities in Gaza.
Ireland's manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson, had previously urged fans to support the team rather than protest. Additionally, a motion was proposed by several football organizations in Ireland calling for the FAI to withdraw from the scheduled matches against Israel on legal and moral grounds. The upcoming matches are set for September 27 on neutral ground and October 4 in Dublin. This incident follows previous tensions in soccer related to Israel, including a notable incident at the FIFA Congress on May 1, 2026, involving officials from the Palestinian and Israeli football associations. Despite the interruptions, Ireland won the match against Qatar 1-0, even after receiving a red card.