Campaigners threaten judicial review over Ireland vs Israel fixtures
Government ministers and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have been warned of a judicial review over football fixtures with Israel.
Irish Sport for Palestine has issued a pre-action letter to the FAI, Sport Ireland and the ministers for sport and justice calling for a boycott of the Nations League fixtures in September and October.
The letter issued through Phoenix Law solicitor Darragh Mackin raises a number of legal arguments and requests a response within 21 days or the campaign will seek a full judicial review.
In a statement, Irish Sport for Palestine said its legal correspondence asserts that the FAI and Sport Ireland must undertake due diligence to ensure the spending of public funds complies with domestic human rights obligations.
It also says the the minister for justice must ensure steps are taken to refuse entry to any person associated with the Israeli football delegation that may have committed offences under the Geneva Conventions.
Recipients of the letter have been contacted for comment.
The FAI issued a statement on Monday saying its board was continuing to meet to “discuss the operational aspects” of hosting the men’s international Nations League football fixture, which is due to be played in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on October 4th.
The FAI said it was also engaging with European football’s governing body Uefa on the issue and that a further statement would be issued after the board meets again on Thursday.
Amid the prospect of major protests around the game and mounting calls for a boycott of the match because of Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Middle East, there is speculation the FAI may seek to have the game played in a different European country.
Campaigners as well as opposition parties Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have argued that changing the venue would not be enough and called for the game to be called off.
On Monday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the decision was a matter for the FAI.
Speaking on Virgin Media’s Monday with Gavan Reilly, he said: “I really encourage the FAI to come to that decision this week to bring clarity to the matter. This shouldn’t drag on and on. So, I hope this week will, for once and for all, see clarity in relation to this.”
In a statement on Monday, the FAI said: “In response to the high volume of media queries related to the topic of our upcoming Uefa Nations League fixtures versus Israel, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) can confirm that the board of the FAI continue to meet to discuss the operational aspects of hosting the home fixture, alongside ongoing discussions with Uefa.
“The FAI will not be releasing a statement on any decision on this matter until after the board meeting scheduled for June 11, due to the hugely significant game taking place on Tuesday for our Ireland women’s national team, where a victory against France will secure direct qualification for a second successive Fifa women’s World Cup, which would be a landmark moment for the team and Irish sport.
“The association reiterates that it is the responsibility of the board of the FAI to protect the future interests of football in Ireland. Any decision around the game is solely a matter for the association.”
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald insisted the venue for the match was not the primary issue.
Posting on social media, she said: “Ireland must not play Israel at any venue – moving the game doesn’t address the reality that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”
Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney also said the game should not be played at all.
“Moving the fixture to another country, possibly Hungary, is an attempt to brush this controversy under the rug and will deny people in Ireland an opportunity to engage in peaceful protest,” she said.
The Israeli government has repeatedly rejected claims that its offensive in Gaza amounts to a genocide and has also defended its military actions in Lebanon.
