Irish athletes call on soccer stars to boycott Israel games — 'The most sporting thing you could do'

More than 160 Irish athletes sign letter calling on Ireland players to boycott Israel games

STOP THE GAME protesters outside the ground, calling for Republic of Ireland's upcoming matches against Israel to be stopped, before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Galway United and Shelbourne at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

More than 160 Irish athletes have signed an open letter to the Irish soccer team, calling on them to boycott the upcoming Uefa Nations League fixtures with Israel.

Controversy continues to rage over the fixtures, set for September 27 and October 4, which are being contested in neutral countries of Hungary and Serbia.