Ireland’s upcoming fixture against Israel should not go ahead. I want to state clearly that I condemn UEFA for its handling of this issue, a handling that shows a flagrant disregard for its principles. When Russia invaded Ukraine, UEFA acted swiftly to sideline it from the competition. Yet in the face of Israel’s devastating and ongoing assault on Gaza, we see no such action. Why the double standard? Why is one state sanctioned and another afforded impunity? In November, the FAI passed a motion calling for Israel to be banned from UEFA competitions. That was a principled position reflecting the views of the grassroots. Yet by February, that stance was abandoned, with the FAI confirming that this fixture would proceed as scheduled. I condemn the FAI for that decision and for failing to stand up for justice when it mattered. It seems it has lost its moral compass. The Irish people have consistently shown that we would rather stand on the right side of humanity rather than be complicit in the oppression and destruction of another people. Sport does not exist in a vacuum; it never has. There is always a political context and choices to be made about what kind of behaviour we are willing to tolerate on the international stage. On the pitch, we accept rules because there are consequences when these rules are broken. What message does it send, however, when a state that persistently breaks international laws faces no consequences at all? If this were a football match, Israel would be shown the red card. In the case of the Eurovision last year, RTÉ made the right call, reflecting public sentiment and Ireland’s long-standing commitment to freedom and self-determination. We need that same courage now. The people of Palestine deserve nothing less than our continued support. Trump’s so-called peace agreement, which excluded Palestinians, has done nothing to address the structural violence they face nor to advance any meaningful or just resolution. Illegal occupation continues with impunity. Ireland should have no hand, act or part in normalising that reality. Seasaim go bródúil le mo chomhghleacaí Joanna Byrne a bhaineadh go héagothrom óna post mar chathaoirleach ar Drogheda United tar éis di seasamh suas don rud atá ceart. I support the grassroots call for the GAA to end its sponsorship agreement with Allianz, a company with strong links to Israel. Thousands of GAA members have campaigned for ties to be cut and I commend their efforts. I take the opportunity to congratulate Newbridge FC for joining the FAI National League this year, the first team in County Kildare to do so since 2009. My son played for the team and many of his friends still do. I look forward to supporting the team and I hope to see other clubs join in the future. For our local and national teams to succeed, we need adequate investment in the League of Ireland and its academies from this Government right here, right now. If the Government can prop up industries steeped in animal cruelty, surely it can invest in the League of Ireland.

Sentiment score: 0.08