Ireland, like Palestine, was once subject to British Imperial rule. The Irish faced starvation, political repression and forced migration during this period. In Palestine, Britain subcontracted its imperial rule to Israeli settlers in 1948. Since then, Israel has continued to ethnically cleans the country through repression, land confiscation, apartheid, and now genocide of the indigenous Palestinian population.
To the Toronto Star,
Your article of October 4, Ireland soccer players again wear black armbands and refuse handshakes with Israel team describes the game as “bad tempered,” but fails to address the serious issue sparking the Irish players' protests, Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Ireland, like Palestine, was once subject to British Imperial rule. The Irish faced starvation, political repression and forced migration during this period. In Palestine, Britain subcontracted its imperial rule to Israeli settlers in 1948. Since then, Israel has continued to ethnically cleans the country through repression, land confiscation, apartheid, and now genocide of the indigenous Palestinian population.
Because of its history, Ireland is sensitive to its responsibilities to oppose the normalization of Israel’s criminal behaviour through sporting events. The Irish population has made it abundantly clear through a range of protests that it doesn’t want its team playing those representing apartheid and genocide. Dublin refused to host the match.
As your article points out, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to ban Israel from the club and international competitions. Yet the UEFA threatens the FAI with “punishing sanctions” if it fails to live up to its contractual obligations to participate in matches. In this case, Irish players find themselves reduced to such symbolic protest actions as refusing handshakes and bowing their heads when the Israeli anthem is played.
The responsibility for this debacle lies with the UEFA. For example, Russia has been under indefinite suspension from the UEFA Nations League since its invasion of Ukraine. Yet UEFA turns a blind eye to the Israeli invasion and genocide in Gaza, refusing to suspend Israeli teams. It thereby normalizes the destruction of schools, hospitals, homes, and infrastructure, and the slaughter of over 74,000 Palestinians.
Ireland and its players should be applauded for their refusal to acquiesce to the normalization of genocide. This is far from unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Tim McCaskell
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