RTÉ to Air Ireland vs Israel UEFA Nations League Matches

RTÉ will broadcast the Republic of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League double-header against Israel, but only with the most basic coverage needed to meet its contract.

Ireland face Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, on 27 September in what is officially the ‘away’ fixture, before the return ‘home’ game on 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia.

Both matches will be shown, yet viewers will notice what’s missing. There will be no studio show, no panel, no familiar RTÉ voices calling the action. Commentary will come directly from the international feed, with no RTÉ commentator on the mic.

Behind the scenes, RTÉ are sending only a minimal technical crew to ensure the pictures go to air. That’s it. No studio build, no analysis segments wrapped around the coverage.

The broadcaster has also opted against taking any advertising or sponsorship linked to either fixture.

RTÉ will still cover the games and the wider events around them in its news output, but the live match broadcasts themselves will be as stripped back as Irish football viewers have seen in years.