Ireland’s game against Qatar was forced to be stopped twice as fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest against Ireland’s planned game against Israel later this year.
The incident took place after 10 minutes, as Jack Moylan was setting up to take a corner for Ireland when a Qatari player went down injured. The stand then began to flood down tennis balls onto the pitch, with the Palestinian flag embalzoned on them.
Tennis balls are launched onto the pitch here at the Aviva Stadium in Ireland vs Qatar, and the Palestine flag is hoisted in the stands, as fans protest against the Ireland vs Israel game, scheduled for this Autumn’s Nations League pic.twitter.com/9hLAgDhhOh
— Ben Symes (@bensymes01) May 28, 2026
Then, after the 20-minute mark, more Tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch while the ball was in play, and the players were taken off to the sidelines while the balls were cleared off the pitch. Multiple fans who were caught throwing the tennis balls were escorted out shortly after.
Ireland vs Qatar is stopped as fans protest against the potential Ireland vs Israel games in support of Palestine 🇵🇸
Security are clashing with the fans who are unfurling banners, flags and throwing tennis balls onto the pitch. pic.twitter.com/wYiliNxEFQ
— Ben Symes (@bensymes01) May 28, 2026
Even more tennis balls were thrown on after the 40th-minute mark, but this time at a much smaller volume, and it didn’t stop the game, with Hallgrimsson quickly clearing a few off the pitch. This is one of the numerous protests that have taken place in recent times ahead of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League games against Israel later this year.
The first half of Ireland's friendly against Qatar in the Aviva Stadium was interrupted twice as fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch
Palestine flags waved in the stands, and sections of fans chanted "stop the game" pic.twitter.com/E5ZfFoy2BJ
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 28, 2026
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side is set to face Israel twice this September and October after being drawn in the same group alongside Austria and Kosovo. The away leg to Israel is likely to take place at a neutral venue, while the home leg is, for now, set to be at Aviva Stadium, though there have been rumblings that it may be switched to a neutral venue.
The FAI and the Irish Government have both stated their intention to have the matches played, with a boycott unlikely to go down well with UEFA, especially ahead of Ireland hosting the Euros in 2028.
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Despite that, a large number of fans and players have voiced their concerns with the Irish National Team playing the game, with the nation’s vocal stance against what’s going on in Palestine.
Speaking about the prospect of players potentially wanting to make a stand, Ireland captain Nathan Collins said he wouldn’t "stand against" anyone wanting to make a stand or protest.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson also defended his players ahead of the prospective match, saying "it’s unfair for the players to be in this position and us to be in this position."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.