RTÉ Still Plans to Broadcast Ireland-Israel Match, Despite Letter Calling for Boycott - 27/02/2026

RTÉ has reiterated that it will broadcast football matches involving Israel, despite calls for a Eurovision-style boycott.Sinéad Gibney, the Social Democrats sports spokesperson, wrote to the broadcaster asking them not to support Israel’s “sportswashing endeavours” ahead of the country’s Nations League match with Ireland in October.“Last year, RTÉ took a laudable stance in response to Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest by opting to not broadcast or participate in the 2026 competition,” Gibney wrote.“I’ve asked that RTÉ now make the same commitment in this case. It is unconscionable to support the sportswashing endeavours of a country whose regime is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians by broadcasting and legitimizing their sporting pursuits.”In response, RTÉ has maintained that it has contractual “and therefore binding legal obligations” to show the match.The broadcaster said it is the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) responsibility to make decisions regarding participation. The FAI said Ireland will fulfil the fixtures.Deputy Gibney joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.