Over 160 Irish athletes have publicly called on the Republic of Ireland's national football team to boycott their upcoming match against Israel, according to The Zioneer. The Israel Football Association has responded to the call, though the content of its response was not disclosed.
The call from more than 160 Irish athletes adds a new layer of pressure to the already fraught Ireland-Israel football relationship. The athletes — whose specific sports and names were not detailed — are urging the Republic of Ireland's national team to refuse to play Israel, framing the refusal as a political statement rather than a response to anything the Israeli players did.
This follows a series of recent developments that The Zioneer has reported: the Irish Football Association initially refused to host Israel, then agreed to a neutral-venue, no-spectator match in October under UEFA's Nations League framework. UEFA also made what Israeli media described as a dramatic decision on the match. The Israel Football Association has now issued a response to the athletes' call, the contents of which remain undisclosed.
The Zioneer previously reported on a broader pattern of Irish political pressure on Israel in sports, including a FIFA incident involving the removal of an Israeli flag at a World Cup venue.
- DevelopingIreland's national soccer team reportedly refuses to host Israel
- StrongIrish team bows heads during Hatikvah, skips handshakes in Nations League match with Israel
- DevelopingIreland's football association officially confirms neutral-venue, no-spectator match with Israel
- DevelopingUEFA makes dramatic decision on Israel national team match
Source and signal
- Open-source intake