Protesters throw tennis balls and call on Ireland to boycott second match against Israel

Protesters interrupted the Republic of Ireland's soccer match against Austria in Dublin on Thursday by throwing tennis balls onto the field. The demonstration was organized by the "Stop the Game" initiative, a small group of campaigners calling on Ireland to boycott its upcoming Nations League games against Israel.

In response to the disruption, referee Allard Lindhout temporarily halted the game by sending players for a hydration break as soon as the tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch. The protest follows prior gatherings in the Irish capital where demonstrators voiced opposition to Ireland playing Israel, citing Israel's actions in Gaza as the motivation behind the boycott demand.