Over 160 Irish athletes call for soccer team to boycott Israel fixtures

More than 160 Irish athletes have endorsed an open letter demanding that the Republic of Ireland’s senior men’s soccer side skip its two UEFA Nations League qualifiers against Israel, to be held in Hungary on Sept. 27 and Serbia on Oct. 4. The appeal, issued by the activist group Irish Sport for Palestine, cites the civilian death toll in Gaza and urges the team to act “with conscience.” Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson recently said the fixtures amount to “playing against genocide,” prompting a hostile response from the Israeli Football Association.

Diplomatic friction has intensified after Israel closed its Dublin embassy in December 2024 and Ireland joined South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Despite a previous Football Association Ireland vote urging UEFA to suspend Israel, the association affirmed it will meet its obligations and play the matches. The athletes’ petition adds pressure on Irish officials amid growing public outcry.