Scotland Squad Has Not Deliberated on Boycotting Israel Matches

According to Scotland midfielder Christy Grimshaw, her teammates have not held any discussions regarding a boycott of the upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures against Israel. The Scottish FA confirmed that both the home and away legs of this double-header will be contested behind closed doors in Hungary. This arrangement follows a directive from UEFA, which has banned all matches from taking place within Israel due to security concerns.

The Scottish FA clarified that hosting these games at a neutral location aligns with the protocols adopted by other teams in Group B4. The governing body further noted that declining to participate would result in the automatic forfeiture of points. This situation contrasts with the stance in the Republic of Ireland, where the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is currently confronting a motion supported by the Irish Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) that could compel the men’s national team to withdraw from their Nations League encounters against Israel later this year.

When questioned on Tuesday about whether non-participation had been considered by the Scottish squad, Grimshaw was unequivocal. "Honestly, no," she stated. "We are obviously aware of all the situations with the Irish players as well with Israel. Ultimately, we have to let the people who are in charge of these situations - the governing bodies who decide these things - decide. We, as players, have been put in a situation where it's the Israel game at a neutral venue and that's all we can do."

Grimshaw acknowledged the complexity of the circumstances, noting, "Is it the best circumstances surrounding it? Of course not, because we are aware of everything else that's going on and we feel for that as humans. However, right now we have to adapt to the situation and play football. That's our role and that's all we can do."

The AC Milan midfielder has recently returned to the national setup after a two-year layoff due to a knee injury. When asked if she had personally considered rejecting the call-up for these matches, Grimshaw distinguished between her personal feelings and her professional duty. "But it's a long time I've been out and, when the national team calls, as a footballer I would never say no to my national team," she explained, adding that she views herself as "two separate people" – a human being and a footballer.

Grimshaw admitted that playing in an empty Bozsik Arena in Budapest on Friday is "not ideal" for the team, which is aiming to add to her current tally of 16 caps. "We'd love to be playing in Scotland, but we just have to play the role we've been given and that's to perform and adapt in the best way we can," she said. "We're human, we are aware, but we can't change it. We are footballers and have a job to do - and it's to get six points in these two games."

Entering the contest, Scotland sits atop Group B4, leading Belgium by goal difference. The Belgian side is scheduled to play their double-header against the group’s bottom-placed team, Luxembourg.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 21:14:39 UTC