Bold claim: Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel should not go ahead, and calling it a government cop‑out only muddies the issue. That’s the stance from a spokesperson for the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland (PFAI), who argues the autumn fixtures should be halted and faults the government for endorsing the FAI’s decision to proceed.
Background: Israel was drawn into Ireland’s Nations League group for the next edition, with matches scheduled for September and October. Shortly after the draw in Belgium, the FAI confirmed it would fulfill the two fixtures, even though it had previously voted at last November’s FAI General Assembly to consider a motion to ban Israel from European club and international competitions.
Reaction: Stuart Gilhooly, solicitor for the PFAI, expressed the union’s position on RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime, aligning with the Footballers Supporters’ Association in supporting Bohemians’ motion to ban Israel. He said, if consistency matters, Ireland should not engage with Israel in European competition or UEFA events until a ban is in place. Consequently, the PFAI believes the matches should not go ahead.
Political context: The government, including An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, stated that Ireland’s fixtures with Israel should proceed, and RTÉ confirmed it would broadcast them if played. The PFAI also argued it would be unfair to ask individual players to make such weighty decisions on their own, suggesting these choices should be resolved by UEFA or by the FAI.
Gilhooly’s remedy: He advocated an emergency general assembly (EGA) to revisit the issue. He reminded that Bohemians’ motion, supported by the PFAI and the supporters’ group, won a 93% vote in November. The question now is whether the football community’s stance should drive the board’s decision, or if they should simply proceed as planned. He argued that the board must consider the assembly’s views when they previously asked UEFA to ban Israel.
Public commentary: The government’s position, echoed by the Taoiseach, has drawn criticism from the PFAI, who call it a cop-out. Gilhooly also pointed to broader political actions like the Occupied Territories Bill, noting that politics and sport inevitably intersect in matters of global significance. He warned against treating politics and sport as completely separable, especially when the issue has far-reaching implications.
Question for readers: Do you think governments should take a clear stand in sports-related decisions like this, or should decisions about whether teams compete be left entirely to sporting bodies? Share your views below.
