Carla Ward says she would back any of her Irish women’s players who chose not to face Israel in the World Cup playoffs.
Next week sees the qualifiers for the 2027 showpiece kick off but only four European teams are guaranteed to qualify directly for Brazil.
The remainder will battle it out in the playoffs later in the year when Ireland could conceivably be pitted against the Israels in the semi-final.
Ireland’s men’s team are currently deep in a quandary about the implications of being grouped with Israel for the Nations League, the two games scheduled a week apart from late September.
Their boss Heimir Hallgrímsson last week confirmed he’d have no issue if a player refused to participate in the games, a stance Ward echoed in the hypothetical sense.
“I support my players in all their decisions, football and non-football decisions,” said Ward as she named her 23-player squad for the opening double-header against France at Tallaght next Tuesday and Netherlands five days later in Utrecht.
“I help them, whether it’s their personal lives or politics; whatever they feel.
“I usually sit down and have those conversations behind closed doors and we come to a solution. I’m supportive of all the players with everything they do.”
On the overall situation in Gaza and the West Bank, where Israel have been accused by the UN commission of committing genocide on the Palestinian population, Ward was sympathetic.
She left the overall FAI stance to David Courell, the chief executive who declined to address the media at last week’s draw in Brussels.
“I think it’s devastating for all involved. My political views won’t come into this. I think my job is the football side, similarly to Heimir. It’s a difficult one, isn’t it?
“I believe David will be talking to the media fairly soon, so I think that’s for them to answer rather than myself to get caught up in it.”
Courtney Brosnan (Everton FC), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland).
Katie McCabe (Arsenal FC), Anna Patten (Aston Villa FC), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest – loan), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Heather Payne (Leicester City).
Denise O’Sullivan (Liverpool), Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jamie Finn (Sunderland).
Saoirse Noonan (Celtic FC), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Nottingham Forest – loan), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Kyra Carusa (Kansas City Current – loan), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg).
FIFA Women’s World Cup European Qualifier
Tuesday, March 3
Tallaght Stadium, 7.30pm
FIFA Women’s World Cup European Qualifier
Saturday, March 7
Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht, 7.45pm (Irish Time).
