Republic of Ireland Vs Israel match: 'Lack of boycott calls against Palestine, Iran or Qatar is hypocritical, says Jewish group
Calls for boycotts against the forthcoming Ireland-Israel football match are "hypocritical" because there are no similar calls against Palestinian football on account or crimes by Hamas - or against Iran or Qatar in light of their human rights abuses, it is claimed.
Daniel O'Dowd, spokesman for the Ireland Israel Alliance, was speaking after it was confirmed that The Republic of Ireland will fulfil their Nations League fixtures against Israel after the Football Association of Ireland took legal advice.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men and the Israelis have been drawn in Group B3, sparking calls for the national team to withdraw from the fixture. The FAI approved a motion in November – which was rejected – calling for Israel to be banned from UEFA competitions because of the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The association said earlier this month that after taking legal advice the two games would go ahead and has since confirmed in a letter to members.
The letter reads: “We understand that this decision will be difficult for many members and supporters. It has not been taken lightly."
It added: “From a footballing perspective, a decision not to play would have serious consequences. It would result in the forfeiture of six points, could lead to relegation to League C of the Nations League and would damage our seeding for EURO 2028 qualification as well as our overall FIFA ranking.”
There have been rising calls on social media to block the game.
But Mr O'Dowd said that the aim of demonising the match was "to define Jews solely by a conflict they never asked for" in Gaza after 7 October.
He said: "By stripping a people of their culture and their voice, you are dehumanising them. Dehumanisation paves the path to violence, and that allows for the crimes against Israelis and Jews to be committed with impunity. In other words, the violence required to destroy a state and people becomes acceptable."
He added: “In Amsterdam, there was a ‘pogrom’ against Israeli football fans – necessitating their rapid evacuation by Israeli authorities.
"In Birmingham, police authorities banned Israeli fans from attending due to threats of violence from radical Islamists, and then proceeded to lie about the reason for their decision for months on end.
"In Scotland, the forthcoming match between Scotland and Israel’s women’s teams is to be moved abroad for fear of violent protests.
"Now in Ireland authorities are already taking steps to move the fixture abroad over security concerns – whilst elected representatives call for the Israeli team to be physically prevented from playing the match.
"The decision to play the match is one matter, the ability of the authorities to guarantee the safety of the visiting Israeli players and fans is quite another."
He also asked why there are no boycott calls against other states.
"In a few months, Ireland is due to play the slave state and global financier of terrorism that is Qatar.
"Iran has slaughtered between 30,000 and 40,000 at least yet there is no calls to boycott them from the Winter Olympics.
"There has also been no suggest of the Palestinian Football Association being pulled from World Cup Qualifiers for the crimes of Hamas."
"Yet, any competition Israel dares to compete in draws the inevitable calls for boycott. "