Palestine Football Association denies commenting on Ireland’s decision to face Israel at neutral venue

BEIRUT: The Palestine Football Association denied on Thursday issuing any statements or commentaries regarding the Football Association of Ireland’s decision to move its UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue.

A PFA statement on X said: “First and foremost, the PFA have not issued any statement endorsing, approving, or supporting the decision to proceed with the match.”

The statement added that any interpretation suggesting that the PFA had given its blessing to the fixture did not accurately reflect the PFA’s position.

The statement, which cited Dima Said, the PFA’s official spokesperson, added: “The PFA maintains a long-standing principle of respecting the autonomy of fellow national associations and refraining from interference in their internal affairs or decision-making processes.”

The FAI, which faced calls by pro-Palestinian activists for a boycott, last Friday said the Oct. 4 game against Israel — originally scheduled for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium — posed “operational challenges.”

The body has confirmed it received UEFA’s approval to move the game. A location has not been announced. The teams are also scheduled to meet on Sept. 27 at a neutral venue for Israel’s “home” game.

The PFA added: “This principle is particularly important to us as an association that has suffered for decades from interference, restrictions, and violations of their rights within the international football system.”

The PFA said it respected the right of every association to determine how they navigated their own sporting, legal, and regulatory obligations, and such respect should not be “misconstrued as endorsement of any particular decision.”

Its spokesperson further stressed that the PFA reiterated its deep