Irish Soccer Squad to Debate Israel Fixture Amidst Calls for Boycott

The Republic of Ireland squad intends to address the controversial upcoming fixtures against Israel after their match against Kosovo on Thursday, according to player Dara O'Shea. The team faces Kosovo in Pristina before playing Israel twice in this international window, with the first of those games scheduled for Sunday.

Growing pressure has emerged in Ireland for a boycott of the matches, exemplified by a protest at the team's hotel in Dublin on Monday. This action followed an open letter from the Irish Sport for Palestine Group, signed by over 160 Irish athletes, urging the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to withdraw from the fixtures due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

O'Shea emphasized the importance of open dialogue and mutual respect among players when they convene on Friday to discuss the Israel game. "It's the main thing and it's something that can't be brushed over," he stated. "Whatever decision that we go through as players is taken as one and everybody's view is respected as well."

The players have been aware of the public discourse surrounding these games but have endeavored to maintain focus. "The good thing we have as players is when we step into the squad you're in the international bubble straight away," O'Shea explained. "So we've known the noise around the game and there has been, but I think we've all tried to stay off social media as much as possible and stay together."

O'Shea acknowledged the situation as "difficult" and "unusual" for the squad, who are also scheduled to play Israel in their designated 'home' fixture in Backa Topola, Serbia, on October 4. The immediate priority, however, remains Thursday's game. "Tomorrow we've got a game to focus on, first of all. I don't think we'll be doing our job properly if we didn't put our full focus into that game," he said. "Once the game's over and Friday comes, we're all going to come together as one."

Regarding the possibility of a boycott, O'Shea clarified that the decision rests with the FAI, UEFA, and the government, not the players. "For us as players, that's not our decision," he said. "We're Irish players and when called upon we come and represent our country and that's important to know too."

The controversy has also involved Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. Israel's football governing body previously accused Hallgrimsson of "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity" following his comments about the fixtures. Hallgrimsson had stated, "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel."

In response to Israel FA's remarks, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, the Irish prime minister, called them "unacceptable" and stated they "should be withdrawn." Hallgrimsson, on Wednesday, expressed gratitude for the support he has received but admitted that creating headlines before the Kosovo match was "not clever" and diverted attention from the game itself.

The conflict that has led to these discussions began with an attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has led to over 73,000 fatalities, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel maintains its military actions are in self-defence and conducted in accordance with international law, denying accusations of genocide.