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Campaign in Ireland calls for boycott of Israel match in solidarity with Palestine
The “Stop the Game” campaign in Ireland called on national team players and head coach Hiemer Hallgrimsson not to play next Sunday’s UEFA Nations League third-round return match against Israel in Serbia. The call came after Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in the previous match.
The “Stop the Game” campaign, launched in solidarity with Palestine, called on Ireland’s national team not to take part in next Sunday’s UEFA Nations League third-round return match against Israel in Serbia.
A letter signed by Irish supporters was sent to Paul Cook, president of the Football Association of Ireland, and the national team squad. The campaign called on head coach Hiemer Hallgrimsson and the players not to play the match.
Bazunu’s stance receives support
The campaign supported goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s decision not to take part in the home and away matches against Israel. Describing Bazunu’s stance as “an act of great personal courage,” the campaign argued that the player had taken a humanitarian position despite possible professional risks.
The letter claimed that other players on the team also did not want to play against Israel. It called on the players to stand alongside their teammates and the people of Ireland.
The campaign claimed that opinion polls showed more than 70 percent of Irish people opposed to the two matches being played. It also said that the Irish government supported the international legal process concerning the war in Gaza and had joined South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice.
The letter also referred to a report published in 2025 by the independent international commission of inquiry established under the United Nations. The campaign argued that the report concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
Protests linked to both matches
“Stop the Game” announced that protests would take place on Thursday alongside the Ireland-Austria match at Aviva Stadium. The campaign argued that refusing to play against Israel would not necessarily result in the sanctions mentioned by the Football Association of Ireland.
The letter said that Paul Cook had stated that UEFA had not threatened to impose sanctions if the national team did not play the match. The campaign argued that the federation’s warnings to players about financial penalties and exclusion had been weakened by Cook’s statement.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, meanwhile, said that national team players should not become targets of the protests. Martin said withdrawing from the match against Israel would not contribute to ending the conflict in Gaza and described some protests directed at the players as “horrible and unnecessary.”
Ireland won the first match 3-0
Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in the match played last Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary. Before the match, Irish football circles debated whether the national team should take part.
The players considered the issue on the Friday and Saturday before the match. Gavin Bazunu left the squad, citing conscientious objection, while additional meetings were held among the players and a vote was taken on their position regarding the match.
The “Stop the Game” campaign is described as a sporting and social protest initiative launched by the lobbying group Sport for Palestine Ireland. The initiative advocates boycotting sporting activities and matches linked to Israel and calls on sports organizations to take a position on the war in Gaza.
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