Leading Irish soccer players have joined with celebrities in a campaign urging the Republic of Ireland to boycott a UEFA Nations League match against Israel later this year.

An open letter sent to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) from campaign group Irish Sport for Palestine accuses Israel of engaging in “genocide” in the war in Gaza and of breaching UEFA and FIFA statutes regarding playing matches on occupied territory.

In November 2025, 93 percent of FAI members voted for its leadership to press UEFA to suspend Israel under those statutes, a mandate campaigners say the Irish governing body should “respect and represent.” Anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian sentiment in Ireland is highly visible, with regular mass protests and cross-party political support for Gaza.

Israel has denied that its forces have committed genocide during the war in Gaza, and has vehemently insisted that it abides by international law in all its military endeavors.

The letter, entitled “Stop the Game.” was signed by League of Ireland players, former men’s coach Brian Kerr and twice women’s player of the year Louise Quinn.

Irish rock band Fontaines D.C., anti-Israel hip-hop trio Kneecap and singer-songwriter Christy Moore were among the other signatories, along with Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea.

#Ireland — Several high-profile figures within Irish football have written an open letter to the Football Association of Ireland calling for a boycott of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel later........

© The Times of Israel