Irish players and celebrities call for boycott of match against Israel

Several top Irish footballers and prominent artists have joined a campaign urging the Republic of Ireland team to boycott their upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Israel, scheduled for later this year.

An open letter to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) from the advocacy group Irish Sport for Palestine accuses Israel of committing 'genocide' during the war in Gaza and violating UEFA and FIFA statutes by allowing teams to play on occupied Palestinian territory.

In November 2025, 93% of FAI members voted to demand that the association's leadership pressure UEFA to suspend Israel under those statutes. Activists argue that Irish football's governing body must 'respect and represent' that mandate.

Israel has rejected accusations that its forces are committing genocide during the Gaza war.

The letter, titled 'Stop the Game,' is signed by League of Ireland players, former men's national team manager Brian Kerr, and two-time women's player of the year Louise Quinn. Artists such as the rock band Fontaines D.C., hip-hop group Kneecap, singer-songwriter Christy Moore, and Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea are also among the signatories.

Ireland is scheduled to host Israel at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on October 4, while the away match on September 27 is designated as a home game for Israel and is expected to be played at a neutral venue.

The letter includes a statement from Shamrock Rovers captain Roberto Lopes, who also serves as president of the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland. 'We cannot ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the immense loss of life there must take priority over any sporting considerations,' said Lopes, a Dubliner who will represent Cape Verde at the World Cup in June. 'Ireland has an opportunity to lead and to do what other countries are not doing.'

Israel has competed in UEFA competitions since the early 1980s after being expelled from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tournaments in the 1970s following refusals by many nations to face them.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin argued that the two matches against Israel should go ahead. 'We have been very critical and very opposed to the Israeli government's policies in Gaza, in particular. We condemn the Hamas attack on Israel, which was appalling,' he told The Irish Times. 'I think sport is an area that can be challenging when it spills over into the political arena.'

In February, FAI CEO David Courell said the national team had no choice but to fulfill its obligations, warning that failure to do so would jeopardize Irish football's long-term sporting interests, including potential exclusion from future tournaments. A poll by the Irish Football Supporters Partnership found 76% of respondents opposed hosting the match.