Irish Athletes Urge Boycott of Matches Against Israel Amid Growing Diplomatic Tensions
More than 160 Irish athletes are calling for the Republic of Ireland’s men’s soccer team to boycott their upcoming match against Israel. This appeal comes amid growing diplomatic tension between Ireland and Israel.
The Republic of Ireland faces Israel in two UEFA Nations League qualifying games soon. The first match is set in Hungary on September 27, followed by another in Serbia on October 4. Both matches will occur without spectators due to protests in Ireland against civilian casualties in Gaza.
The activist group Irish Sport for Palestine announced that many Irish sports figures have urged the men’s soccer team to “act collectively with conscience” and refuse to play against Israel.
This situation escalated when the Israeli Football Association criticized Irish head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson for his comments at a press conference. Hallgrímsson stated, “We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide.” This remark sparked backlash from the Israeli Football Association.
Previously, Irish fans displayed a “Show Israel the red card” banner during a match against Hungary in Dublin, reinforcing their stance on the issue.
“We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes. Unfortunately, a cure for stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy embodied by @IrelandFootball’s coach has yet to be discovered,” read a social media post from the Israeli association.
The Irish government has been critical of Israeli military actions in Gaza. Diplomatic relations deteriorated further when Israel closed its Dublin embassy in December 2024. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar cited Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies” as the reason.
In a related development, Ireland supported South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The case accuses Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Last year, the Irish football association voted to request UEFA to suspend Israel from competitions. However, this summer, they confirmed that the Irish team would fulfill its UEFA obligations and compete against Israel. They acknowledged the strong sentiment regarding Palestinian support but emphasized the impact of not participating in UEFA fixtures on Irish football’s future.