Sinn Féin spokesperson on Sport, Joanna Byrne TD, has strongly criticised the Football Association of Ireland’s decision to move Ireland’s Nations League fixture against Israel to a neutral venue behind closed doors.
Deputy Byrne described the move as a “cowardly decision” and said it goes against calls from members of the public and the football community to cancel the match altogether as part of the Stop The Game campaign.
She argued that the FAI board acted without consulting its own stakeholders and members, many of whom had recently called for an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the issue.
“Today’s confirmation that the FAI will move the Nations League fixture against Israel to a neutral venue and behind closed doors flies in the face of the demands of the Irish public and the Irish football community, including the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Irish Football Supporters Partnership (IFSP), to Stop The Game,” she said.
Deputy Byrne said the FAI’s decision demonstrated that the organisation had heard public concerns but failed to act on them.
She also criticised the Government for voting down a Sinn Féin motion in the Dáil earlier this week, which she said would have provided a pathway for the FAI to refuse to fulfil the fixture.
“The motion brought forward by Sinn Féin this week gave government the opportunity to provide a clear roadmap for the FAI to do the right thing. Instead, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael chose to look the other way,” she said.
Deputy Byrne argued that moving the fixture to a neutral venue while excluding Irish supporters was not an adequate response.
“Moving these games to a neutral venue, locking out Irish supporters in the process, is the cowards’ way out. Not only should this match not be played in Ireland, it should not be played anywhere while a genocide in Palestine is ongoing.”
She said the conflict in Gaza could not be ignored by sporting organisations or governments and renewed calls for action from football’s governing bodies.
Deputy Byrne also questioned UEFA and FIFA’s handling of Israel’s participation in international competitions, arguing that sanctions should already have been imposed.
“Ireland being drawn against Israel was the nightmare scenario that no one wanted. We have been clear that Israel should not have been in the competition in the first place.”
She further claimed that the decision leaves Ireland’s players in a difficult position.
“Today’s decision by the FAI leaves the team, our international footballers, exposed and vulnerable, and carrying a burden they should never have to carry. Where is the support and leadership from the FAI? Where is the support and leadership from government?”
Deputy Byrne said the latest developments would only strengthen support for the Stop The Game campaign.
“The calls of the FAI’s own members, the PFAI, the trade union movement, and the vast majority of Irish football fans will not be silenced.
“We say no double standards, no to genocide and no to complicity in sportwashing. Stop The Game.”
