Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Republic of Ireland fans threw tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag on to the pitch during Thursday's game
- Published28 May 2026, 23:24 BST
Republic of Ireland midfielder Jamie McGrath says he expects the controversy surrounding the side's upcoming Israel fixtures to "heat up" after Thursday's friendly win over Qatar was disrupted.
The Aviva Stadium game - which the Republic of Ireland won 1-0 thanks to Nathan Collins' early header - was twice briefly interrupted in the first half when home fans threw tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag on to the pitch.
After the game, RTE reported that protesters were ejected from the ground, and McGrath expects more backlash before the Republic of Ireland face Israel in a neutral venue on 27 September and 4 October in Dublin in the Nations League.
Earlier this week, Republic of Ireland stalwart Seamus Coleman said the situation "should have been dealt with above us".
"I obviously listened to Seamus' interview and I think he was spot on," McGrath told BBC Sport NI.
"It's obviously a unique scenario. The people [protesters], we have to listen to them, they have the right to do what they do, as long as it's done in a peaceful way, that's all that matters.
"I'm sure it's going to heat up over the next few months. Like I said, we don't want to be put into a position. Hopefully the powers above us can work something out or use it for the greater good, I'm not sure what the process will be as it heats up.
"At the end of the day, we're footballers and we don't want to be caught in this, but sometimes we might have to."
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Pressure has grown in Ireland for a boycott of those games because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign having held a protest at the Dáil (Irish parliament) on Tuesday.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed the games will go ahead, with chief executive David Courell saying the governing body had "no choice" and could face "serious consequences" if it pulled out of the games.
Earlier this week, Collins said that if individual players felt strongly enough to boycott the games, "we are not going to stand against them", while manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said if protesters "want to destroy the game for us, so be it" after the Qatar game.
Asked if there is confidence within the squad about a resolution, McGrath added: "To be honest, I've no idea.
"We obviously touched on it a few days, I'm sure as it heats up it might be taken out of our hands, I'm not sure."
