The 42FM

Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel

The 42FM

Show Notes

Ireland will play Israel twice in the coming weeks, despite widely articulated concern and protest over the fixtures. Niall Kelly and Sinead O’Carroll discuss the background to these games, how they came about, and why they will go ahead despite the misgivings of many supporters.

The pair discuss previous stories that have been at the intersection of sport and news and politics and explain why this is by far the most contentious in recent decades.

With Uefa, the FAI and Irish government opting against making a stand or ruling on the fixtures, the responsibility for protest has cascaded down to the players. We ask if it is fair or realistic for a professional footballer to become the face of dissent against these games going ahead and, as a consequence, the highest profile sporting opponent of Israel.

We detail how the media has decided to cover the games, and the policy of The 42 and The Journal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from The 42FM

Oct 20, 2026

Sinéad and Niall welcome Mark Horgan of the Second Captains/BBC podcast 'Where is George Gibney?' to reflect on the paedophile's criminal conviction and sentencing 33 years after he was first charged in a Dublin court.

Oct 14, 2026

Paul Howard joins Sinéad O’Carroll and Niall Kelly to talk about how sport would work in a united Ireland.

Oct 6, 2026

Sinead O’Carroll and Niall Kelly are joined by the much-admired sportswriter for a far-reaching chat.

Sep 29, 2026

Sinéad O’Carroll is joined by David Sneyd, who has returned from a tumultuous few days in Debrecen with the Ireland football team.

Sep 14, 2026

Niall Kelly is back from Doonbeg to tell Sinéad O’Carroll about a golf tournament like few others.

See all episodes →