I thank the Social Democrats for this important motion. I must pay tribute also to senior international players like Séamus Coleman and Nathan Collins. They have been put in an incredibly difficult position, but they have shown in their recent comments how connected they are to the Irish supporters and to Irish society, and we are very proud of them. In 2022, the Polish Football Association showed its mettle and its connection with its players. Polish players stood up against the sportswashing of Putin's murderous regime and forced the hand of UEFA and FIFA. I commend the Polish Football Association and the players for that stance. That is exactly the approach our football association should be taking and the fact that it has not shows the wild disconnect between the leadership of the FAI and the players and supporters of Ireland. Taking a home international away from the team and supporters hits particularly hard when we consider that the Palestinian national team and supporters have not been able to have a true home game since 2019 because of a murderous and genocidal government that poses a lethal threat to players, fans and hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Many of us in this House, thousands of Irish people, activists, fans and players want to see this game cancelled and boycotted. The single most cowardly decision that the governing body could have made was to move this game to a neutral venue. It removes the ability of ordinary people, Irish fans, to protest what they firmly believe would be the sportswashing of genocide. No banners, no protests in the street, no platform for our soccer fans to have their voices heard. Irish fans would have no issue with having a home game taken from them if it meant that the Irish people and Irish soccer were taking a stand against Israel's participation. Finally, I would like to say to those who spout nonsense about politics and sports, sport is political. All sport is political. Art is political, music is political. That sentiment is nothing but a cloak to guard an opinion that you do not care about standing up for the oppressed in the only ways that ordinary Irish people have at their disposal. Stop the game, Minister.

Sentiment score: -0.06