‘Stop the Game’ campaign urges FAI to refuse UEFA Nations League fixtures over Gaza war.
Prominent Irish footballers, former national team coaches and well-known celebrities have signed an open letter calling on the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to boycott upcoming matches against Israel, citing the ongoing war in Gaza and alleged violations of international football regulations.
The campaign, titled “Stop the Game” and organised by the group Irish Sport for Palestine, has gained significant traction in recent days as the Republic of Ireland prepares to face Israel in two UEFA Nations League fixtures scheduled for September and October 2026.
'We cannot ignore the humanitarian catastrophe':
In the open letter addressed to the FAI, signatories argue that proceeding with the matches would amount to complicity in what they describe as Israel’s “brutal system of apartheid and acts of genocide” in Gaza. They also accuse the Israeli Football Association of breaching UEFA and FIFA statutes by operating clubs and matches on occupied Palestinian territories.
Signatories include several League of Ireland captains such as Roberto Lopes of Shamrock Rovers and Dawson Devoy of Bohemians, former Ireland manager Brian Kerr, and women’s football star Louise Quinn. Cultural figures who have backed the call include rock band Fontaines D.C., hip-hop group Kneecap, singer Christy Moore, actor Stephen Rea, and musician Paul Weller.
One League of Ireland player was quoted saying: “We can’t ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine. The sheer loss of life there has to take precedence over any sporting consideration.”
Ireland’s strong pro-Palestine sentiment:
Ireland has long maintained a vocal position in support of Palestinian rights, with widespread public sympathy for the Palestinian cause. Polls have shown a significant majority of Irish football fans oppose playing against Israel while the war in Gaza continues.
The FAI has so far indicated it intends to fulfil its UEFA obligations, while the Irish government has reiterated that it will not call for a boycott. However, campaigners point to a November 2025 vote in which 93% of FAI members supported pressing UEFA to suspend Israel.
Calls Grow in Ireland to Boycott Israel in Football:
The “Stop the Game” initiative forms part of a wider international push to isolate Israel in the sporting arena amid the Gaza conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians according to health authorities in the enclave. Israel denies committing genocide and says its military campaign targets Hamas militants following the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Advocates argue that sport should not be used to “sportswash” alleged war crimes, drawing parallels with past boycotts against apartheid South Africa.
As pressure mounts on the FAI ahead of the fixtures, the debate is expected to intensify in the coming months, highlighting the intersection of sport, politics and human rights in Ireland’s longstanding solidarity with Palestine.