Local TD says 'incomprehensible' for Ireland to play Israel in international
Sinn Féin TD for Longford Westmeath Sorca Clarke has said she believes it is "incomprehensible" that the Ireland men's national football team should line out against Israel while "a genocide is ongoing".
Clarke was commenting as preparations step up for the Republic of Ireland's clash against Israel in Dublin in October.
"We need to do everything in our power to stop the game. Ireland cannot play against Israel – it's as simple as that.”
Deputy Clarke said: “Israel actively uses football to sportswash its image and to extend its territory while also committing genocide and implementing apartheid.
“Their slaughter of footballers and bombing of football pitches cannot be accepted or normalised.
“Front-line Israeli soldiers with blood on their hands lining out against our national team cannot be accepted or normalised.
“And we need to stand firm on the consensus, that sportswashing cannot be accepted or normalised.
“The FAI needs to hear this loud and clear. Ireland has a choice now whether it wants to stand on the right side of history or not. This is bigger than sport, but sport has the power to send a strong message - a message of morality."
She said Israel should not be in the Nations League competition and should have been expelled by UEFA.
"They should have been sanctioned long before that for their breaches on clubs in illegal settlements built on land stolen from Palestinians."
“Despite UEFA and FIFA being in contravention of their own rules, still there are no sanctions - no expulsion - for Israel because UEFA and FIFA are serving their own political interests, cosying up to US and Israeli governments.
“Sport cannot be separated from justice and humanity, we have an opportunity now to take a stand. Activists, civil society and politicians alike.
“We cannot sit on the sidelines and watch as sporting bodies act selectively according to politics favourable to their interests. There is a history in this state and indeed in world football of participating in boycotts against nations that violate international law and sporting statutes."