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Multiple Irish opposition parties have called on the government and the Football Association of Ireland to cancel the country's upcoming international football fixture against Israel, with lawmakers from across the political spectrum urging a full boycott rather than a venue change.
Sinn Fein sports spokesperson Joanna Byrne told reporters in Dublin that both the government and the FAI should "do the right thing" and "refuse to participate," public broadcaster RTE reported Tuesday.
Her remarks came ahead of a Sinn Fein motion due to be debated later that day, followed by a Social Democrats motion scheduled for Wednesday.
The men's Nations League fixture is currently set for Oct. 4 at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. The FAI said Monday its board was continuing to meet to discuss the operational aspects of hosting the match.
Reports that the FAI may be open to relocating the match to Hungary drew sharp rebukes from lawmakers who said a change of venue would fall short of what is being demanded.
People Before Profit-Solidarity lawmaker Richard Boyd Barrett said "simply putting it to a neutral territory is not good enough," adding that the game should be stopped entirely and not take place at any venue.
Social Democrats lawmaker Sinead Gibney echoed that concern, saying a possible move to a neutral location "puts us in the worst of all worlds" and warned that doing so would pile pressure onto the players, an outcome she said her party had sought to avoid "from day one."
Gibney also called on the government to block Israel from any international sporting competitions, citing what she described as a "massive public sentiment" reflected in the Stop the Game campaign.
The push for cancellation extends beyond the two parties bringing formal motions. Labour lawmaker Duncan Smith said the fixture should be boycotted outright. Aontu party leader Peadar Toibin said he does not believe the match should go ahead and confirmed his party would support the opposition motions.
Gibney also criticized government officials who have said they would not attend the match while stopping short of calling for its cancellation, describing the position as "incredibly hypocritical."
The UEFA Nations League is a competitive international tournament that replaced many traditional friendly fixtures for European national teams, meaning cancellation or forfeiture carries formal consequences under UEFA rules.
The FAI, as the governing body for football on the island of Ireland, holds ultimate responsibility for fulfilling or withdrawing from fixture commitments, though political pressure from the government can factor into such decisions. Ireland has no formal mechanism to exclude a UEFA member association from competition unilaterally.
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