RTÉ says it is legally obliged to screen Ireland's home game with Israel

Michael Bolton

RTÉ have confirmed it will broadcast the Republic of Ireland's Nations League fixtures against Israel.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men and the Israelis have been drawn, along with Austria and Kosovo, in Group B3.

There have been calls for the game to be boycotted, with the FAI having approved a motion, which was rejected, in November last year, calling for Israel to be banned from UEFA competitions due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The FAI confirmed the two games would go ahead and has since confirmed in a letter to members that legal experts have backed that stance.

On Thursday, RTÉ released a statement confirming they will provide live coverage should the game go ahead.

“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.

"In essence, the 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."

The broadcaster also explained the difference between the games and the Eurovision, which RTÉ will not be broadcasting.

"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.

"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, the responsibility obviously falls to RTÉ as Ireland’s national PSM, and a member of the EBU.

"So, RTÉ was able to make an independent decision on both participation and broadcasting of the Eurovision.”