Pro-Palestine protests interrupt game as Ireland pass up 2-0 lead in draw against Austria

Protests halted events in Dublin twice before the Republic of Ireland were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Austria came back in the second half of their Nations League encounter at the Aviva Stadium. Despite a significant security presence, the contest was twice interrupted in the opening 45 minutes, first due to what campaign group Stop the Game later referred to in a statement as a “limited tennis ball protest”, when – around the 20th minute – tennis balls wrapped in stickers featuring the Palestinian flag and the text “#StopTheGame” were launched on the pitch. Continue reading...