Stop the game and stand with Palestine – Ó Ríordáin
Stop the game and stand with Palestine – Ó Ríordáin - The Labour Party
Labour MEP for Dublin Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has reiterated his call for Ireland not to play Israel on Sunday, as tonight SIPTU hosts a Stop the Game evening of solidarity with Palestine at Liberty Hall in Dublin.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said:
“Ireland should not be playing this match. The players should never have been put in this position. As someone who loves football, this is incredibly upsetting. Players should be thinking about representing their country, not carrying the weight of a decision they never should have been asked to make. Irish football must not be used to sportswash the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.
“FIFA and UEFA have failed to act, despite calls for Israel’s suspension from international football. That failure has put Ireland’s players in an impossible position. They should never have had to face this choice.
“SIPTU’s gathering at Liberty Hall tonight brings trade unionists, campaigners, artists and supporters together in solidarity with Palestine and in support of cancelling Ireland’s upcoming fixtures against Israel. This goes beyond one football match.
“Labour has called for Israel to be excluded from international sport, academic and cultural events. Ireland must use its EU Presidency to build support for a wider boycott. After this controversy, attention must also turn to the EU–Israel trade agreement. Ireland should press for it to end and use every avenue available to hold Israel accountable.”