Louth TD 'extremely angry' as FAI confirm Israel fixture will go ahead

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Joanna Byrne has called on the FAI to boycott its UEFA Nations League fixture against Israel. 

Deputy Byrne, who is also Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Sport accused the FAI of having its principals "only on paper" and "not in actions where it counts". 

The FAI had previously submitted a motion to UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from its competitions for a "breach of statutes". 

However, the FAI confirmed it will fulfil the fixture as UEFA regulations outline that the fixture would be forfeited as a result and further disciplinary measures may follow, which could include disqualification from the competition. 

Deputy Byrne said the FAI's motion to ban the Israeli FA was the "correct moral and principled position to take".

“Therefore, I am extremely angry and dismayed that the FAI have confirmed they will play against Israel," she said. 

Read Next: Man taken to hospital following Dundalk incident

The Sinn Féin TD shared the view of Ireland's manager Heimir Hallrímsson who said Israel should face the same consequences as Russia, who were banned from UEFA competition in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. 

“There are double standards here from UEFA. Russia was expelled from all club and international competitions by UEFA in 2022 following their brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine. The same principle should be applied to Israel."

“UEFA should have expelled them as soon as Israel went into Gaza on a genocidal, ethnic cleansing mission that has seen tens of thousands of innocents murdered, including hundreds of sports men and women."

“I hope the FAI knows the furore that will be coming for them from the Irish football fans - the vast vast majority will not want to see our Boys In Green in the same stadium as the Israeli team," she said. 

Deputy Byrne said Israel should be treated the same as Apartheid South Africa and be "banned and boycotted by all".

“I have said it before when I was asked about Israel’s participation in Eurovision and in other sporting fixtures and I will repeat it again now: Israel is an apartheid state who have engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide. Their behaviour cannot be accepted or normalised," she said. 

The tie is set to be played in Israel, who have been playing their home matches in Hungary since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.