The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will this evening host an Extraordinary General Meeting at Aviva Stadium to vote on a motion regarding the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures with Israel.

As it stands, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team are scheduled to face Israel in Debrecen in Hungary on 27 September for the ‘away’ tie, before the return ‘home’ fixture on 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia.

Before the draw was made, last November’s FAI general assembly established, with an 89% majority, that the Irish football community felt strongly enough to propose their suspension from European competition due to the war in Gaza and specific breaches of FIFA and UEFA rules

Once Ireland were drawn in the same group as Israel, an EGM was proposed by a group including LOI clubs Cork City and Bohemians, the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Supporters’ Partnership, with the specific purpose of voting on a motion calling for a boycott of the two fixtures.

However, the motion that is to be voted upon on Wednesday is not the one proposing a boycott of both fixtures. The original motion opposed to the fixtures taking place due to the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza had been deemed invalid due to questions over membership status of some proposers.

The FAI board have put forward their own motion which will be put to members, which states: “While acknowledging the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine and the upcoming UEFA Men’s Nations League fixtures, that the members recognise the profound impact that any non-fulfilment of UEFA fixtures would have on Irish football as a whole and on its future development, and accordingly endorses the Association fulfilling its obligations in respect of those fixtures.”

In a letter to members, signed by president Paul Cooke and chair Tony Keohane, the FAI board outlined its reasons for rejecting a boycott of the upcoming fixtures.

“Having considered all the available information and the consequences of non-fulfilment, the board concluded that refusing to play these fixtures would cause significant and lasting harm to Irish football, with no indication that such an action would result in any change to Israel’s participation in UEFA competitions,” the board members wrote.

In an accompanying document sent to general assembly members and released to the media, the FAI has said that forfeiture of the fixtures would have an immediate impact in terms of two 3-0 losses, likely relegation to League C of the Nations League, as well as a direct revenue loss of €5.5m.

When taking into account the reduced revenue stemming from reduced UEFA participation income, likely relegation and reduced ticketing and sponsorship, the FAI statement estimated a “likely” financial loss of €10.3m.

The FAI added that a boycott could potentially result in “total removal from the current Nations League (eg, competitive integrity) and potential exclusion from future UEFA and FIFA competitions at senior and underage level”.

It said that a boycott would risk “lasting competitive disadvantage that would severely reduce the prospects of qualifying for major tournaments for years to come.”

It noted that all other national assocations had thus far fulfiled their fixtures with Israel, saying that “a unilateral boycott would leave Irish football bearing the brunt of disciplinary procedures in isolation”.

In response, the group who proposed a boycott has contacted delegates urging them to vote no, accusing the FAI board of trying to “scaremonger and shut down any discussion before it even begins” by sharing “unsubstantiated figures and vague assertions”.

While a defeat in what is expected to be a hybrid secret ballot would not force the FAI’s board of directors and senior management into changing course, a no vote would make it increasingly difficult to proceed with the two fixtures. However CEO David Courell has previously stated the fixtures would be fulfilled regardless of any EGM vote.

Speaking back in February he told RTÉ Sport that while the leadership are “open to hearing any viewpoints that our general assembly have on the topic”, however “the reality is the games will be fulfilled because it is within the best interests of our football”.