Newstalk Breakfast Newstalk Breakfast

Ireland vs Israel "home" match Serbia will go ahead

Oct 1, 2026 · 5m

Summary

Keith Tracy joins News Talk Breakfast to discuss the Irish national team’s upcoming match against Austria amidst political tensions over a future fixture against Israel. He argues that players should focus solely on the current game and receive a standing ovation rather than facing protests, as they are not responsible for political decisions. Tracy criticizes the FAI for failing to protect the squad and suggests that public anger should be directed at UEFA, the governing body that allowed Israel’s participation, rather than the athletes.

Topics discussed

Show intro and guest introduction Player feelings regarding home crowd opposition Advice to focus on Austria match only Review of Kosovo game and squad performance Pride in Gavin Bizzuno and call for ovation Response to Stop the Match protest demands Critique of targeting players for political statements Argument that UEFA is the correct target FAI handling of the crisis and inevitable mess Respect for Bizzuno vs. players' duty to play Lack of protection for players and staff Closing remarks and sign-off
Listen ad-free on Castria