The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League meeting with Austria at the Aviva Stadium was interrupted twice by pro-Palestine protests before ending in a 2-2 draw. Despite a significant security presence, events in Dublin were halted in the opening 45 minutes, and Ireland were later forced to settle for a point after letting a two-goal lead slip.
Around the 20th minute, tennis balls wrapped in stickers featuring the Palestinian flag and the text “#StopTheGame” were launched onto the pitch. Campaign group Stop the Game later referred to the incident in a statement as a “limited tennis ball protest”. Play was briefly paused just before the 20th minute to clear the tennis balls, a pause both teams used for a water break. The contest was stopped again around the 35th minute when a man ran onto the field of play from the opposite side carrying what appeared to be a Palestinian flag; he was immediately tackled by security and carried off.
The disruptions came during a tumultuous week for the Republic. Their two Nations League fixtures against Israel have divided opinion in the country and sparked protests, including one that took place outside the stadium before the Austria match. Ireland’s behind-closed-doors “home” game against Israel in Backa Topola, Serbia, is scheduled for Sunday, and manager Heimir Hallgrímsson confirmed on Wednesday that it was their intention to play.
Hallgrímsson made three changes for the Austria game, including the re-introduction of Finn Azaz, who was greeted warmly when his name was announced over the PA system before the match. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who had made himself unavailable for the Israel meetings, was back in the squad, while Liam Scales and John Egan were awarded starts.
On the pitch, Austria’s Sasa Kalajdzic tried an audacious early lob from midfield to catch Caoimhín Kelleher off his line. Real Betis striker Troy Parrott gave the hosts a sensational 12th-minute opener, bringing down Adam Idah’s glanced-on header from a goal kick, nutmegging Philipp Lienhart and evading the other challengers with a mazy run before planting the ball past Florian Wiegele and into the bottom corner. Kelleher denied Patrick Wimmer, but Parrott doubled Ireland’s lead on the stroke of half-time. Ryan Manning won the penalty after he was clipped in the box by Nicolas Seiwald, and Parrott stepped up after a video assistant referee check to blast it past the Austria keeper.
Austria’s comeback came through a pair of substitutes after the break. Alexander Prass halved the deficit in the 71st minute after Liam Kitching was caught out and Austria worked the ball to the unmarked Prass, who blasted beyond Kelleher; the offside flag was initially raised, but the decision was reversed by VAR. Six minutes later, Michael Gregoritsch drew the sides level, with Kelleher guessing the wrong way as the Augsburg forward fired into the corner.
There were late chances at both ends. Republic captain Dara O’Shea was denied by an excellent leaping save from Wiegele, Gregoritsch directed a shot over the crossbar, and both sides fended off attempts at a late winner. Ireland had a chance to top Group B3 with a victory, but they sit third behind Austria and Kosovo at the halfway point of the group stage.