McClean criticises FAI 'backbone' over Israel games
Former Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has accused the Football Association of Ireland [FAI] of not having a "backbone" regarding the planned Nations League games against Israel later this year. On Thursday, an open letter from Irish Sport For Palestine which has launched a 'Stop The Game' campaign, called on the FAI to boycott the fixtures on 27 September and 4 October. Brian Kerr, a past Republic of Ireland manager, is one of the letter's 39 signatories with McClean endorsing the campaign on his Instagram account.
While accepting "it's a tough one" for the players who would lose "an opportunity to play a football game for your country", McClean - capped 103 times for Republic of Ireland - said there would not be "too many if any objecting" if the games were boycotted and also suggested "the decision should be taken out of their hands". "The game should never be going ahead," the 37-year-old Derry City player posted on his Instagram account. "If there is one country that should recognise oppression and the turmoil that brings then it's Ireland..
although with the decision makers in this country you'd be mistaken to think we ever had any history of it. " Irish Sport For Palestine maintains the games should not take place, citing what is describes as "clear and ongoing serious breaches of Uefa and Fifa statute regarding Israeli teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands" and "a brutal system of apartheid and genocide, both of which are accepted by the Irish government". Israel has regularly denied committing genocide or war crimes and has said its actions in Gaza have been justified as a means of self-defence.
Kerr is one of 39 signatories of the 'Stop The Game' letter issued by Irish Sport for Palestine Former men's international manager Kerr is among the high-profile names to have signed the letter. Others include former Republic of Ireland women's player Louise Quinn and ex-Sweden international Hedvig Lindahl, plus musicians Paul Weller, Bobby Gillespie, Tom Morello, Kneecap and Fontaines DC. Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland chair and Shamrock Rovers captain Roberto Lopes - who is in line to represent Cape Verde at this summer's World Cup - added his voice.
"We have to stop the game," Lopes wrote. "As players and fans, our natural instinct is always to get out there and compete, but this is a moment where we need to look at the bigger picture. "We can't ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the sheer loss of life there has to take precedence over any sporting consideration.