The “Irish Sports for Palestine” group sent an open letter to the Irish Football Association, accusing Israel of committing “genocide” during the Gaza war, and of violating UEFA and FIFA regulations by allowing matches to be held on occupied Palestinian lands.
In November 2025, 93 percent of the members of the Irish FA voted to authorize its leadership to pressure the European Union to suspend Israel’s membership, which activists say the Union must respect and implement.
On the other hand, Israel denies that its forces committed acts amounting to genocide in Gaza.
Reuters contacted the Irish and Israeli Football Associations to request a comment on the case.
The letter was titled “Stop the Match,” and was signed by players in the Irish League, along with former national team coach Brian Kerr, and former player Louise Quinn, a two-time winner of the Best Player award.
The list of signatories also included artistic and cultural names, including the Irish rock band “Fontaines DC” and the Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea.
Ireland is scheduled to host the Israeli national team at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on October 4, while another match is expected to be held on September 27 at a neutral stadium, as a match on Israeli soil.
Roberto Lopez, Shamrock Rovers captain and president of the Professional Footballers’ Association in Ireland, said: “We cannot ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the loss of life there must take precedence over any sporting considerations.”
Lopez, who was born in Dublin and is expected to play for Cape Verde in the World Cup in June, added: “Ireland has an opportunity to be in a leadership position and do what others have not done.”
Israel has been participating in UEFA competitions since the early 1980s, after being excluded from the AFC competitions in the 1970s, following the refusal of a number of Asian countries to confront it.
On the other hand, Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said that the two matches against Israel should be held, adding to the Irish Times: “We have criticized and strongly opposed the policies of the Israeli government, especially in Gaza, and we also strongly condemned the Hamas attack on Israel.”
He continued: “I believe that sports becomes a complex field when it intersects with politics.”
The CEO of the Irish Football Association, David Correll, said last February that the national team had no choice but to adhere to the scheduled matches, or risk harming the long-term sporting interests of Irish football, including the possibility of exclusion from future competitions.
A poll conducted by the Irish Football Fans Association showed that 76 percent of participants opposed holding the match. (Reuters)
