A significant number of Irish footballers have joined a campaign calling for a boycott of an upcoming match against Israel in the Nations League, scheduled for this autumn. In an open letter sent by the organization "Irish Sport for Palestine" to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Israel is accused of participating in genocide in the Gaza conflict and violating UEFA and FIFA statutes by allowing clubs to play on occupied Palestinian territory.
A Letter to 'Stop the Game'
Ireland is set to host Israel in a match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on October 4. The letter, titled 'Stop the Game,' requests that the match not take place. Among the signatories are footballers from the Irish league, as well as former candidate Brian Kerr and numerous public figures, including Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea.
The letter also includes a statement from Robert Lopes, captain of Shamrock Rovers and president of the Irish Professional Footballers' Association. "We cannot ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the loss of so many lives must take precedence over any sporting considerations. Ireland has an opportunity here to take the lead and do what others are unwilling to do," Lopes stated.
The Government and Football Association's Stance
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has stated that both matches against Israel should be held. "We have been critical and very strongly opposed to the policies of the Israeli government, particularly in Gaza. We condemned the Hamas attack on Israel, which was absolutely despicable. I believe that sport can become a challenging area when it is entangled with politics," the Prime Minister told Irish Times.
FAI Chief Executive David Coull also stated in February that the team has no choice but to fulfill its obligations. Otherwise, he warned, there is a risk of long-term damage to Irish football's interests, including potential disqualification from future competitions.
Polls and Competition History
A survey by the Irish Football Fans Partnership revealed that 76% of respondents oppose the match. In November 2025, 93% of FAI members voted for the leadership to pressure UEFA into suspending Israel.
Israel has been competing under UEFA since the early 1980s, after being expelled from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in the 1970s due to several countries' refusal to play against it.
