RTÉ has confirmed it will broadcast the Republic of Ireland’s forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against Israel if the match proceeds, stating that it is bound by contractual and legal obligations to do so.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the national broadcaster said the decision on whether the game goes ahead rests solely with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) as the governing body for the sport in this country.
“If the match goes ahead – and that is a decision for the FAI as the relevant national sporting body – RTÉ will broadcast it in line with its contractual and therefore binding legal obligations and of course our overall commitment to supporting Ireland’s national teams,” the statement read.
The broadcaster added that decisions regarding participation by Ireland’s national soccer team in any tournament are the responsibility of the appropriate official national sporting body, in this case the FAI. “Decisions relating to the broadcast of these events are therefore dependent on such decisions,” it said.
The clarification follows renewed public and political scrutiny over sporting and cultural links involving Israeli teams and representatives, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In previous coverage, Sport for Business outlined how the FAI, as a member association of UEFA, is obliged to fulfil its international fixtures unless otherwise directed by European football’s governing body.
Read More: FAI Has ‘No Choice’ But to Fulfill Israel Fixture
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The Republic of Ireland’s involvement in the UEFA Nations League is governed by competition regulations set by UEFA, and any withdrawal or refusal to play could expose the Association to disciplinary sanctions, including fines, suspensions or potential exclusion from future competitions.
In that context, the FAI’s position has been that it must comply with UEFA’s framework, with decisions around fixtures and tournament participation falling within its remit rather than that of Government or broadcast partners.
RTÉ also addressed comparisons with its recent stance on the Eurovision Song Contest, where it faced calls to reconsider Ireland’s participation. The broadcaster said the two situations are fundamentally different.
“RTÉ’s decision in this case is different to RTÉ’s decision regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, which is owned and run by the EBU, for one main reason,” the statement continued. “In that case, it is national public service broadcasters/media (PSM’s) who operate the selection process to decide which song/artist will represent their country in the Contest and therefore it is entirely the decision of the PSM whether to take part or not.”
In Ireland, RTÉ acts as the national public service media organisation and a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), giving it direct responsibility for both participation and broadcast decisions in Eurovision. “So, RTÉ was able to make an independent decision on both participation and broadcasting of the Eurovision,” the statement concluded.
By contrast, in international football, broadcast rights are typically secured under multi-year agreements covering national team competitions, with fixtures delivered as part of a centralised rights package. As a result, once the FAI confirms participation in a UEFA competition, the associated broadcast commitments follow.
The episode once again underlines the increasingly complex intersection between sport, politics and media rights. While public debate continues around the appropriateness of sporting engagement in times of geopolitical tension, the operational reality for governing bodies and broadcasters remains framed by contractual, regulatory and governance structures that leave limited room for unilateral action.
For now, the position from both the FAI and RTÉ is clear: if the UEFA Nations League fixture proceeds under UEFA’s authority, it will be played — and it will be shown live to Irish audiences.
Image Credit: Sport for Business
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