Sport ministers will not attend Ireland v Israel match later this year

Neither Minister Patrick O’Donovan nor junior minister for sport Charlie McConalogue will attend the Ireland v Israel match at the Aviva Stadium later this year. The FAI has decided the Nations League fixtures between the teams will go ahead in September and October. Junior minister Mr McConalogue said the Government has “always been clear that it’s a matter for the FAI to decide” whether to play the game, but that he does not intend to go to the match himself. Mr O’Donovan said that he “won’t be going to the match” either.

Social Democrats TD Sineád Gibney told both ministers with responsibility for sport that Ireland “cannot engage as a State in the sportswashing of a genocide” and that she believes the government’s “inaction” is putting players in an “awful” situation. During a meeting of the Oireachtas committee on arts, media, communications, culture and sport, she asked whether Government would commit to covering any sanctions against the FAI if they refuse to play the match. “Listen, this is something we’ve answered on numerous occasions and made our position very clear,” said Mr McConalogue, adding that the Irish Government has “led out politically internationally” on the “unacceptable use of force and loss of life in Palestine”. He said the decision in relation to playing the match is one for the FAI and UEFA, adding that it is a “matter for (the FAI) to decide upon”. Ms Gibney said she is “not comforted” that the government is taking the issue seriously enough as it has not explored whether it would support the FAI in covering the cost of any sanctions if Ireland refuses to play.

Mr McConalogue denied that the fixture is “sportswashing” and said there would be “significant repercussions for (the FAI) within the UEFA system for them to consider and they’ve made their call and we support their decision”. “We support their call to play the match and we support their right to make that decision as well.” Mr O’Donovan said RTÉ has not approached the Department in relation to the coverage of the match and the issue of coverage is “a matter for the FAI in the first instance”. “My understanding is other international organisations have gone to neutral venues and that remains an issue that the FAI has to address, but it’s a matter for the FAI.” On whether that would affect the broadcasting contract, Mr O’Donovan said: “That would have to come once the FAI have made a decision. My understanding is that the FAI’s decision at the moment is because of the imposition of the UEFA rules where they would be excluded.” Mr O’Donovan said that “we have raised this with the FAI on a number of occasions and the FAI have made it very clear”, though told Ms Gibney that she was interrupting his answers to her questions. “You’re doing a great job of shouting me down. This is what you always do,” he said. “If I did anything other than what we have done with regard to RTÉ you would be the very first person, with your indignation, saying that I have overstepped my remit.” Fianna Fáil TD Pádriag O’Sullivan said he has made a “personal decision” not to attend the fixture at the Aviva Stadium in October, and asked both ministers whether they intend to do the same. “Can I just ask, in a personal capacity - I’ve made a personal decision myself, I go to all the Irish home games and I have done for a number of years, but I’m choosing personally to stay away from that specific match when it is played later this year,” he said. “And if you wouldn’t mind, in a personal capactiy, saying is it your intention to do something (similar) or would either of you consider it as a form of personal protest, rather than dictating to another government agency?” Mr O’Donovan said he “won’t be going to the match”, while Mr McConalogue said: “I don’t intend to attend the match either Deputy O’Sullivan, no.” It comes after the Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins said players have to trust the FAI and the government “that they know what they’re doing”. Speaking yesterday, he said: “We’re picked to play football.

You know, we’re picked to represent our country. It’s a tough situation for us to be in and we have to trust the people around us, that they know what they are doing.” He said it was “hard to say” what the squad would discuss, but added that “if individuals wanted to take a stand, we are not going to stand against them, we are not going to hold them back”. “They are entitled to their own opinions. If they are very strong about that, we can’t stop them.” Several League of Ireland captains and other leading figures in Irish football have signed an open letter calling on the FAI to boycott the Nations League fixtures against Israel later this year. The FAI has said a refusal to play would have had “serious consequences” from a football perspective.