The game was due to be part of the scheduled fixtures in yet another European international competition, the European Nations League. Due to the genocide being committed by the Israeli state against Palestinian civilians, including women and children, to say nothing of purposely targeting hospitals for missile attacks, this game is surrounded in controversies. There have been countless calls for a boycott of both fixtures, the game deeming Israel to be the home side is to be played in Hungary, while the game scheduled initially for Dublin has been transferred to Serbia at the Backa Topola which is a cop out by the Football Association of Ireland (IFA).
The FAI have decided at an emergency meeting that a boycott of these games by the team would have long lasting “damaging” effects on football in the twenty-six-counties. The call by many is in fact a demand that Israel should be kicked out of all competition controlled by Europe’s governing body for football, UEFA, which, if applied, would eliminate any fears in the future the team may draw Israel again. Russia was kicked out of all sporting competition including football after their invasion of neighbouring Ukraine but no such action is taken against Israel whose list of ‘war crimes’ are far greater than those of Russia. A rule for one but none for the other especially when the other are mates of the USA?
Critics and opponents of such a boycott point to anti-Semitism being levelled at them which is of course nonsense, and this is often used as an excuse not to criticise the Israeli state. Anti-Semitism is making profoundly hate fuelled speeches against Jewish people which is wrong and must be stamped out. Such orations include Holocaust denials and heaping blame on Jewish people for the world’s economic and political problems. Jewish people have suffered terrible anti-Semitism since the 12th century culminating in the horrific events in Nazi Germany and German occupied Europe during the Second World War and must be stamped on wherever it raises its ugly head. Criticising the Israeli government for their murderous actions in Gaza and the West Bank is not anti-Semitic and such criticisms are in fact levelled against the Netanyahu regime by Jewish people both inside and outside Israel.
The FAI have shown an unwillingness, inability, or a combination of both to organise a boycott of these fixtures. They have said such a boycott would cause “long lasting damage” to football under their jurisdiction. It could incur a €10.3 million fine on the association plus €5.3 million loss of revenue through gate takings. This revenue will be lost anyway because the games are due to be played behind closed doors in the so-called neutral venues Hungary and Serbia. It would almost certainly result in points being deducted and relegation for the team but so what? So, it comes down to the possible loss of €10 million in financial penalties and fines against taking a principled stance in support of the women and children in Palestine. Good to see the IFA have their priorities right!!
The FAI have shown an unwillingness, inability, or a combination of both to organise a boycott of these fixtures. They have said such a boycott would cause “long lasting damage” to football under their jurisdiction. It could incur a €10.3 million fine on the association plus €5.3 million loss of revenue through gate takings. This revenue will be lost anyway because the games are due to be played behind closed doors in the so-called neutral venues Hungary and Serbia. It would almost certainly result in points being deducted and relegation for the team but so what? So, it comes down to the possible loss of €10 million in financial penalties and fines against taking a principled stance in support of the women and children in Palestine. Good to see the IFA have their priorities right!!
The IFA claim to support the Palestinian people and now they have a chance to prove it by initiating a boycott of these fixtures and demanding the Israelis are, like Russia, booted out of the competition. To those who claim that politics should not come into sport, a ship which sailed a long time ago, I suggest they contact the good offices of Mr D.J. Trump who in all but name issued a presidential decree demanding a referee’s decision to red card a US player be overturned in the recent World Cup. Sport, all sport like everything else in life, is political in the broader sense of the word. This could also be an opportunity for the FAI to lead a campaign by individual football associations across Europe to have the Israelis booted out of the European Nations League and all other competitions for a period until the genocide stops. No need for UEFAs permission, they have already decided where their loyalties lie: just organise the boycott, refuse to pay any fines levelled at them and build support outside the governing body.
Given the FAI consider this fudge, moving the game to Serbia, as fulfilling their responsibilities towards the Palestinian people it may now come down to those players selected to play taking action themselves. This would be a last resort but it is the players who hold the ultimate card to have the matches played or not. Arguably footballers should not have these decisions, essentially administrative determinations, forced upon them but alas, like anything else in life, sometimes we have to do things not liked. I believe such a move would be popular among the footballing public and would have the desired effect. The Professional Footballers Association Ireland, the players trade union, would support such a boycott and are bound to defend any player who refuses to play against the Israeli national side should they suffer any repercussions related to their actions. I would strongly recommend the players keep in contact with their trade union if they decide on this course of action.
Given the FAI consider this fudge, moving the game to Serbia, as fulfilling their responsibilities towards the Palestinian people it may now come down to those players selected to play taking action themselves. This would be a last resort but it is the players who hold the ultimate card to have the matches played or not. Arguably footballers should not have these decisions, essentially administrative determinations, forced upon them but alas, like anything else in life, sometimes we have to do things not liked. I believe such a move would be popular among the footballing public and would have the desired effect. The Professional Footballers Association Ireland, the players trade union, would support such a boycott and are bound to defend any player who refuses to play against the Israeli national side should they suffer any repercussions related to their actions. I would strongly recommend the players keep in contact with their trade union if they decide on this course of action.
The FAI have somewhat hypocritically voted in favour of UEFA “suspending Israel from European competitions” while at the same time agreeing to fulfil their own fixtures and commitments against the far-right state. UEFA voted not to impose the same ban on Israel as they did on Russia, anti-Slavic racism perhaps? In view of this it is coming down to the players to make a stand by refusing to play in these fixtures until at very least the genocide in Palestine stops. If the team manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, who has said he will “respect” any players decision in this regard, selects a second eleven then they too must refuse to play.
The players should invoke multilaterally what James McClean invoked unilaterally and use (what I call) the “McClean principles”. James McClean while playing in England refused to wear a poppy either as an appendage or superimposed into his shirt at the time of year called “Remembrance Day”. McClean refused and refuses to wear the poppy due to atrocities committed by British troops in the Six-Counties against civilians in much the same way, though on a smaller scale, as are Israeli soldiers doing against Palestinian civilians. The size of the massacre, though relevant, is in principle the same be it one innocent killed or one million.
This is now a decision I believe the players themselves must take as distasteful such a move may be. They owe it to the people of Palestine who have been killed including many sports persons and footballers. I cannot see any alternative but to take such a boycott of the Israeli games to UEFA telling them in no uncertain terms genocide against civilians will not be tolerated. If the governing body refuse to act then they, the Irish players, will take unilateral action! Will they do this? Time will tell!!
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
2020
