565 Reasons To Stop Israel Game

The FAI announced on the 8th of June that they’ll seek to switch Ireland’s home Nations League game against Israel on October 4th, to a neutral venue. This has come after months of protest from supporters groups.

The Stop The Game campaign have come together to lobby, organise and fight to get the game called off. Fan groups across the League of Ireland have also visibly and vocally shown their support for a boycott of both fixtures, with actions happening frequently across both divisions.

Statistics as of May 1st 2026 (from the Palestinian embassy in London) show why people are rightly angry. Since October 2023 there have been:

• 565 Palestinian footballers killed

• 100+ children athletes killed

• 800+ athletes killed

• 265 sports facilities destroyed

• 90% of sports facilities in Gaza completely destroyed

Since the draw for the tie was made in February, Israel have expanded their terror and destruction to Lebanon and Iran while continuing to murder Palestinians in their thousands. Just last week they kidnapped 2 female footballers, one of which was only released a couple of days ago after 5 days in captivity.

Every single Israeli citizen over the age of 18 must serve in the IDF for a minimum of 2 years. Every Israeli footballer is an IDF soldier. There are players playing in this current squad who have committed war crimes in Gaza and beyond.

Condemnation has come from all over Irish society with opposition politicians, artists, musicians, football pundits, journalists and the general public largely in agreement that the games shouldn’t happen. (70% in a poll as of last week).

The main argument against a boycott is that Ireland will be docked 6 points if they fail to complete their fixtures. This argument is coupled with the claim that a boycott might hinder our chances of getting promoted or block Ireland from finishing high up in the group. As a lifelong football supporter, I say this: who fucking cares?! This is about humanity. Football and politics are intricately linked and always have been, especially at international level.

So people are aware, the Nations League, as described by UEFA, is effectively a friendly competition. There are no real, tangible arguments in favour of playing these games.

Nobody wants these games to happen.

The government are leading the way and pushing this through and the FAI are following them like cowards. Players from the Ireland international set-up and the League of Ireland have gone on record in saying that the games shouldn’t go ahead, including captain and Ireland legend Seamus Coleman who said he won’t make himself available for the games. Coaches too, have been more cautious but have effectively sided with the majority.

Then there’s the issue of supporter safety. No matter where the games are played, if both supporters can attend, Israeli fans will attack Irish fans. I am not being dramatic. Israeli football hooligans have one of the worst reputations for violence and racism in the world. Maccabi Tel Aviv caused a riot in Amsterdam in 2024, attacking local Arabs and communities who came out to protect them (while former Ireland captain Robbie Keane was manager).

Beitar Jerusalem are notoriously vile, aggressive and racist with a reputation of violence and a catalogue of disgusting chants calling for the “extermination” of Arabs. Football terraces are usually a microcosm of wider society and Israel is no different.

Supporters of intercounty GAA are currently fighting to force the association to drop Allianz as a sponsor who, like seemingly most corporations, support the ongoing genocide. Both fights are organic and anti-capitalist. Both fights are trying to keep the soul of their respective games intact.

The decision to play this game needs to be taken out of the hands of the players and the management team. The government and the FAI need to bow to pressure. The Red Network argues that the FAI must be a leader and refuse to allow the national team to play a genocidal regime. If we do this, the house of cards will fall. Other teams will follow suit and eventually UEFA will have to expel Israel. But we can’t rely on the political establishment and national organisations to do what’s right.

Push your trade unions to call for a boycott. We need ICTU to call a boycott. The FAI clerical staff are represented by SIPTU - the bureaucracy must back the workers who don’t want this game to go ahead. Stop the game.