Ireland v Israel soccer: 'Six points versus genocide... a bit of perspective'

Sinn Féin and Social Democrats hit out at Government 'hiding behind' FAI in its stance on the controversial fixture between the Republic of Ireland and Israel in October

St Patrick's Athletic supporters hold up a 'Show Israel The Red Card' banner on Friday during their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The Government has been accused of "hiding behind" the FAI in its stance on a controversial game between the Republic of Ireland and Israel this October. 

Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue said it is the FAI’s decision to play the game with Israel and the Government respects that decision.

Mr McConalgoue said he will not be attending the October match, but claimed that the FAI finds itself in a “challenging situation” as it would face penalties from governing body Uefa if it were to boycott the match.

He told RTÉ's The Week in Politics programme that the coalition will continue to “show leadership in the political arena internationally on this issue” in a bid to bring "unity" around sanctions and other measures against Israel.

However, opposition parties have strongly hit out at the Government's stance on the soccer match, with Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats bringing forward Dáil motions calling for a boycott of the fixture.

Social Democrats sports spokesperson Sinéad Gibney described Mr McConalogue's remarks as a "cop-out", saying he has had "ignored previous political precedent of an Irish government stepping in to stop an international soccer game when the Irish team was scheduled to play the team of a country engaged in war crimes".

She said: “In 1999, the then Fianna Fáil government prevented a Euro 2000 qualifying match between Ireland and Yugoslavia from taking place because of Serbian atrocities in Kosovo. This was despite the fact that Uefa had turned down a request from the government to cancel the game.

“That was the position of Fianna Fáil then. However, both the Taoiseach and his party colleague, the Minister of State, are now claiming the government is powerless to act. No one is buying this."

Ms Gibney added: “The Government is talking out of both sides of its mouth on this issue, saying it supports the game going ahead while Cabinet members announce plans to boycott it."

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said the match should not be played and the issue is “about our moral standing as a country”.

Responding to warnings that Ireland would face fines or potential points deductions, Mr Cullinane said: "Six points versus genocide ... a bit of perspective.

“Some things in life are just more important, and when you talk about soccer, when you see players killed, supporters killed, sporting grounds levelled — they don’t exist anymore in Gaza,” said Mr Cullinane.

• Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor