Call for Israel matches to be stopped
A number of Cork sports people have signed an open letter to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) men’s national team, calling on them to boycott Ireland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel.
Cork football legend Valerie Mulcahy and dual star Rena Buckley, Alan Dineen – who boycotted the European Championships in Zaragoza this summer due to Israel’s involvement – and rugby players Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and Heather O’Brien, among others, have said that playing the matches against Israel “legitimises a genocidal regime and gives cover for statue violations, apartheid, and war crimes”.
Both matches have been moved to neutral venues.
Ireland are scheduled to play Israel on 27 September in Debrecen, Hungary for their home leg, and again on 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia for the away leg.
The letter said that the decision to stop the matches rested with the FAI and the Government, but that they have “doubled down on playing, ignored the wishes of members, acted cowardly and dishonestly by moving the games, and have disrespected the majority of players, fans, and communities across Ireland".
“Now we appeal to you, as athletes, to act collectively with conscience. We have all competed to the highest level of our respective sports, and some of us have even represented our country, so we understand what it takes to get here – the time, dedication, and sacrifice.
“We also know what it takes to uphold the values of sport and act with fairness, equality, and respect which is why we call upon you, as a team, to refuse to participate in the two games against Israel,” the letter said.
This weekend and last weekend, players in the League of Ireland were also called on by the trade union SIPTU to take part in a pre-match action to protest against the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Turn Your Back on Genocide, Not Palestine calls on players to turn their backs at the beginning of matches to indicate their opposition to the genocide.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Greg Ennis said: “This is an action that teams at every level can participate in. It is peaceful, respectful and focused on remembering the victims while sending a clear message that the sporting community will not remain silent in the face of what is happening in Palestine.
“It will also indicate the support within the Irish sporting community for those workers, whether professional sportspeople or working in any other sector, who wish to follow their conscience and have no part in the still scheduled to take place international football games involving Israel,” he said.
It is understood that Cork City FC are supportive of the campaign, and actions have been carried out by fan groups inside and outside of Turners’ Cross in support.