The SFA says it understands fan concerns surrounding Scotland’s women playing Israel in World Cup qualifying but it can’t pick and choose who to play.
Belgium and Luxembourg join the Scots and Israel to make up the remaining teams in the group who aim to make it to the 2027 World Cup.
Campaigners such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have called on the SFA to boycott the matches.
And Scottish football’s governing body has responded in a statement to fans on Saturday.
It said: “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 across Scotland who have been in touch following the Scotland Women’s National Team being drawn against Israel in the forthcoming World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
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“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.
“Indeed, to refuse to play would forfeit both matches and negatively impact the prospects of our women’s national team.
“We will continue to engage with supporters as we navigate the logistics of the home and away matches against Israel.”
Scotland women manager, Melissa Andreatta, has also responded to the calls.
She said: “It is a valid question, the focus for the players and the staff is the football match, the draw.
“That is all we can focus on and control.
“It is a question more for UEFA.
“As a group we can only be focused on the games.
“That is all we can do.”
Clashes against Israel have brought plenty of uproar in recent history.
Israel travelled to Hampden last year in a behind closed doors clash and a protestor found himself inside Hampden and chained himself to a goalpost.
Putting a heavy duty lock round his neck proved quite the disruption, with kick-off delayed by 45 minutes on that occasion.
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