More than 160 Irish sportspeople urge Republic of Ireland to boycott Israel Nations League games
Open letter calls on Ireland squad to refuse September and October fixtures
More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter organised by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group, urging the Republic of Ireland senior men's team to boycott their upcoming Uefa Nations League games against Israel.
The Republic of Ireland are due to face Israel on 27 September in Hungary, before the reverse fixture in Serbia on 4 October.
'Bigger than sport'
The letter states that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Uefa and the Irish government should have intervened before this stage — but insists there is still time to "show the power of sport to unite".
"This is a significant moment and with this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing," the letter reads. "Putting on the Irish jersey and representing your country means something. But the Ireland we want represented is the one that remembers its roots in anti-colonial and anti-imperial resistance, which Irish sport played a large part of.
"This moment symbolises something deeper, it is bigger than sport. But in a way this IS sport. Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do. Through your leadership and courage, it would show the power of sport to unite, remind us of the shared values that connect us all, and have an impact far beyond the game."
Signatories span Irish sport
The signatories include Olympian Ciara Mageean, former Republic of Ireland footballer Louise Quinn, and ex-Ireland rugby fly-half Tony Ward — who himself boycotted an Irish rugby tour of South Africa. Boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan have also added their names.
GAA figures among the 160-plus signatories include Padraig O'Hora, Joe Brolly, Colm O'Rourke, Michael Darragh Macauley, Philly McMahon, Valerie Mulcahy and Rena Buckley. Para-athlete Alan Dineen and ultimate frisbee player Stephen Jones — both of whom boycotted fixtures against Israel earlier this year — are also signatories.
FAI voted to proceed
In July, the FAI's General Assembly endorsed a motion for the Republic of Ireland to go ahead with the Nations League fixtures against Israel, with 75 votes in favour, 32 against and three abstentions from the 114 delegates.
The FAI had previously warned that boycotting the games would cause "significant and lasting harm" to Irish football, as well as a potential financial loss of 10.3m euros (£9m).
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he had spoken to members of his squad individually about the prospect of facing Israel, adding: "none of us feel comfortable playing in these games."
Context for the double-header
The Nations League games mark the Republic of Ireland's first competitive action since their World Cup play-off semi-final heartbreak against the Czech Republic in March. Since the penalty shootout loss in Prague, they have played four friendlies — beating Grenada and Qatar and drawing with North Macedonia and Canada.