Brief

Pro‑Palestine protests disrupt Ireland‑Austria Nations League match

Two separate pro‑Palestine actions interrupted the fixture, which finished level after Austria rallied in the second half.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:20:33 GMT

Pro‑Palestine activists twice interrupted the Republic of Ireland's Nations League match against Austria at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, which finished in a 2‑2 draw, the Guardian reported.

What happened

In the first half, around the 20th minute, a volley of tennis balls wrapped in stickers bearing the Palestinian flag and the hashtag “#StopTheGame” were thrown onto the pitch. The incident was described by campaign group Stop the Game as a “limited tennis ball protest”. About fifteen minutes later, a man entered the field from the opposite side carrying a flag that appeared to be Palestinian; security quickly tackled and removed him.

What the reports add

The Guardian noted that the disruptions occurred within the opening 45 minutes, forcing a temporary halt each time. It also highlighted that the match was part of a turbulent week for the Irish side, with previous protests surrounding a scheduled behind‑closed‑doors game against Israel.

What was said

Stop the Game later called the first incident a “limited tennis ball protest” in a statement. No further comments from the Irish Football Association or UEFA were included in the report.

How it came about

The protests followed a series of demonstrations linked to the Israel‑Gaza conflict, including pre‑match actions outside the stadium and a postponed press conference ahead of Ireland's upcoming match against Israel. Earlier Felo coverage linked the growing activism to broader protests across the UK and Ireland, such as the Orange Order parade standoff in Portadown.

Key facts

The Ireland‑Austria Nations League match ended 2‑2 after Austria equalised in the second half. (theguardian.com)
Pro‑Palestine activists threw tennis balls with Palestinian flags onto the pitch around the 20th minute. (theguardian.com)
A man carrying a Palestinian‑style flag entered the field around the 35th minute and was removed by security. (theguardian.com)
The match was halted twice within the opening 45 minutes due to the protests. (theguardian.com)
Campaign group Stop the Game described the tennis‑ball incident as a “limited tennis ball protest”. (theguardian.com)