I thank Deputy Joanna Byrne for bringing forward this motion from Sinn Féin. I am proud to stand with my constituents in Donegal and countless people across the country and wholeheartedly support the Stop The Game campaign. After more than two years of watching Israel commit genocide against the Palestinian people in real time, we cannot allow Israel to use sport to normalise its crimes. This autumn's Nations League game between Ireland and Israel must be called off. Poll after poll shows the majority of people in Ireland do not want to see this game played. Instead they want sanctions against Israel for the horrific crimes it has continued to commit and the genocide that is still ongoing. Even players do not want to play this game. As Donegal man Séamus Coleman said, players have a heart, they know what is right and what is wrong. He said, "It's awful, it is extremely sad and it's a very difficult position for the players to be in." It is ridiculous that the players have been put in this situation and have to come out and answer. UEFA's Equal Game campaign states that everyone should be able to enjoy football regardless of who or where they are or how they play the game. The hypocrisy is staggering. The Palestinian people have not been given the freedom to enjoy football or any other sport. According to the Palestinian Football Association, Israel has killed 1,007 members of the Gaza sports community. Between October 2023 and February 2026, 184 sports facilities, stadiums, halls and headquarters were completely destroyed and a further 81 facilities were partially destroyed. Meanwhile stadiums have been turned into shelters for displaced people. Israel has stripped the Palestinian people of the opportunity to play, watch and enjoy football, yet there are no consequences for this. UEFA sits back and allows Israel to engage in sportswashing in an attempt to distract from its crimes against the Palestinian people. Israel is not a normal state and should not be treated as a normal state. It is often said that there is no place for politics in sport but sport is inherently political. Sport reflects the shapes of wider social, economic and political realisation. Countries and sporting bodies use the likes of the Nations League and the World Cup to promote their national identities. Playing the Israeli team is a political act and it normalises the violation of international law. Israeli teams must be excluded from sporting events by the governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.

Sentiment score: -0.02