Sinn Féin spokesperson on Sport, Joanna Byrne TD, and MEP for Dublin, Lynn Boylan, have announced that the party will move a motion on the day the Dáil returns from recess on Tuesday June 9th that calls on government to support the will of the Irish public and football community and urge for the FAI to refuse to participate in the Nations League games against Israel.
Teachta Byrne said:
“Sinn Féin is moving a motion that calls on government to support the demands of the Irish football community, which include the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Irish Football Supporters Partnership (IFSP), and provide a clear roadmap for the FAI to refuse to participate in the Nations League matches against Israel.
“It is inconceivable that Ireland’s national team, flying under our tricolour, could be used as a prop in Israeli sportswashing while a genocide is ongoing.
“We learnt yesterday that enough signatories have already been collected from FAI delegates to seek the FAI to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting – the signatories include significant representative bodies, the PFAI and supporters partnership, as well as clubs like Cork City and Bohemians.
“The sole item on the agenda would be to put forward a motion calling on Ireland to refuse to play Israel – that is a call that the government must now get behind.
“Sinn Féin’s motion highlights that FIFA and UEFA banned Russia in 2022 in response to the decision of the football associations of Czechia, Poland and Sweden to refuse to play Russia in international competition. No action was taken by FIFA or UEFA against these associations for refusing to play Russia, thus setting a clear legal and moral precedent.
“We need to stand in support of the Irish football community so we therefore further call on government to agree to cover the costs of any financial penalty that the FAI may incur through refusing to play the game.”
MEP Boylan said:
“The PFAI don’t want these matches to go ahead, the unions don’t want these matches to go ahead, and the vast majority of Irish football fans don’t want these matches to go ahead either.
“We heard this week from Séamus Coleman – an Irish footballing legend – who said that this issue should have been dealt with by FAI or UEFA.
“That is a crucial point – these players should not be in this position. They should not have been put in a situation to answer for the FAI’s failure to show leadership.
“The FAI should have acted before now. But it is not too late. It is vital that as a nation we do the right thing. The FAI must listen to the Irish football community.
“The government now has an opportunity to support Sinn Féin’s motion that would pave the way for the FAI to Stop The Game.”
