Women’s World Cup qualifying: Scotland to play Israel double header behind closed doors in Hungary

After the Republic of Ireland’s men’s team were drawn to play Israel in the Nations League this autumn, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) asked Uefa about what the sanctions for refusing to fulfil the fixtures would be.

They were told that they could potentially be disqualified, so have opted to play the matches.

Subsequently, the FAI were accused by former international winger James McClean of not having a “backbone”.

The Scottish FA did not respond to fresh requests for comment on their decision to play the matches.

But in a statement issued to the BBC in November, they said that “to refuse to play would forfeit both matches and negatively impact the prospects of our women’s national team”.

They added: “The Scottish FA is acutely aware of the suffering and devastation experienced in Gaza.

“We are not insulated from the emotional weight of that reality, nor immune to the moral urgency expressed by the supporters, campaigners and wider civic society who have been in touch following the draw against Israel.

“At the same time, we are a national association operating under membership of Fifa and Uefa and bound by their statutes.

“Member associations do not have unilateral discretion to choose who they will or will not play against, which is why we are obliged to fulfil our fixtures.”