The campaign against Israel in Ireland ahead of the two teams’ Nations League matches continues. After comments by Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson criticizing Israel, Irish media reported Monday that more than 160 Irish sports figures signed an open letter urging national team players to “act together with conscience” and refuse to participate in the two upcoming games against Israel during the international break.
The letter was published by Irish Sport for Palestine, which called on the players to “seize the moment.” Among the signatories are prominent figures from Irish sport, including rugby stars, Olympic athletes, former Ireland national team footballers, boxers, Paralympian Alan Dineen and ultimate frisbee player Stephen Jones, who earlier this year boycotted meetings with Israelis in their respective sports.
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Ireland national team supporters hold Palestinian flags as calls grow to boycott the upcoming matches against Israel
(Photo: REUTERS/Cathal Mcnaughton)
The letter said the Football Association of Ireland, UEFA and the Irish government had “let down” the national team players and that they should never have been put in a position where they had to confront the issue of playing Israel. However, the signatories said there was still time for the association and government to act and prevent the two matches from taking place.
“This is a significant moment and with this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing,” the letter said. “utting 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.”
Israel national team players
(Photo: AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
The appeal to players came days after the Irish association again explained why it planned to hold both matches against Israel. Chief Executive David Courell said the association did not want to act unilaterally while continuing to press UEFA to suspend Israel from international competitions.
Earlier last week, FAI director John Martin asked critics not to direct their anger at national team players over the matches.
“People like me, [FAI CEO] David Courell made the decision, not the players,” he said. “It should be a player-centre world we are in, we are always mindful of the physical environment the player is in and we need to protect them as much as possible.”
Israel will face Ireland on September 27 and October 4. Neither match will be held at the teams’ home stadiums: Israel because of the security situation and Ireland due to concerns over violent protests outside the stadium. The games will instead be played in Hungary and Serbia.