Stolen logo? Internet users banter about similarities between ‘Israel’, Ireland football badges

Look closely at the current logo for the so-called Israel Football Association (IFA), and you might notice something very familiar. It looks almost identical to an old badge used by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) decades ago.

This striking visual similarity has sparked satire online.

Two Logos, One Shape

The badge at the center of the controversy is a design the FAI used between 2004 and 2023. When the IFA launched its current badge around 2008 , fans immediately noticed the likeness.

Both badges share a specific, unusual pointed shield shape. Inside, the layout is nearly the same:

• Name: The country name runs along the top (either ‘FAI’ or ‘ISRAEL’).
• Central Symbol: A football is placed below the name.

However, this specific shield shape is not unique to Ireland or ‘Israel’. Other football associations used very similar and often identical ones, making it difficult to put truth to such claims.

The Controversy on Social Media

"Why did the Israel FA copy the old Ireland Crest, it's not like them to take something that isn't theirs?" one question said. 

One sarcastic comment suggested the crest was "promised to them 3000 years ago," referencing religious claims to land.