Sinn Féin TD says Irish players would have ‘overwhelming support’ for Israel match boycott

Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said responsibility for stopping the fixtures rests with the FAI, not individual players

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

There will be “overwhelming support” for any Irish football players who opt to boycott the upcoming fixtures against Israel, a Sinn Féin TD has said.

Pearse Doherty said the pressure should never have been placed on Irish footballers over playing against Israel, saying the FAI can still take a decision to stop the matches going ahead.

“This is a decision that still can be taken by the FAI, and if the FAI have the players' interests at heart, then they should be making this decision now. It is absolutely genocide,” Mr Doherty said.

The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson said the Israeli FA was seeking to sportswash its image and use the match for political purposes.

“If any player decides to boycott this, let me be very clear. Just as the scene with Macklemore, there will be an overwhelming support from the Irish nation supporting them, right behind them all of the way. But it’s their decision at the end of the day.

“It's their decision at the end of the day. I hope that they will make that decision. I hope that this game does not go ahead, but the responsibility lies with the FAI, not with the players, in my view, at this point in time.”

Ireland fixtures against Israel

The two matches are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks, with the first being held in Debrecen, Hungary, on September 27. The second fixture will be held on October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia.

A campaign has been taking place in recent months calling for the matches to be stopped, with pressure being placed on both the Government and FAI to call off the games.

In recent days, Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has said individual players are uncomfortable with playing the fixtures against Israel.

“I’ve said before, we’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, we’re not playing with Israel,” Mr Hallgrimsson said.

In a post on X, the Israeli FA said the country had “have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields”.

We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by @IrelandFootball team coach. We’re not playing with…

— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) September 21, 2026

“Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by @IrelandFootball team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, We’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”

Political reaction

Ged Nash, Labour TD for Louth, said Israel should be treated as a pariah state for its “genocidal actions” over its war in Gaza, as well as its ongoing expansion of settlements in the Palestinian West Bank.

“We in Ireland and our manager will not be taking lectures from the Israeli FA who are in no position, ethically and morally, to lecture anybody,” Mr Nash said.

“This is a fairly predictable response from a reasonable position taken by our manager in recent days in relation to this game, and his description about playing against genocide. I think encapsulates how we all feel.”

Mr Nash said the team was being put in an “invidious” position, while saying he would not watch the match or consume media surrounding it.