Ireland's Football Matches Against Israel Should Have Been Boycotted
Source: Luan Rogers. "Ireland’s Matches Against Israel Should Have Been Canceled." October 1, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
The author argues that Ireland's soccer matches against Israel should never have happened, because playing them normalized a country the author believes is committing genocide. The piece praises goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu for refusing to play as a moral stand, while criticizing Irish football officials for lacking the courage to cancel the games despite widespread public support for a boycott.
Conclusion
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and UEFA should have canceled/boycotted Ireland's matches against Israel rather than allowing them to proceed.
Premises
- Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, as recognized by the Irish government's decision to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice
- Sporting boycotts can serve as meaningful political pressure and precedent, similar to historical sporting boycotts of apartheid-era South Africa
- There was substantial public and institutional support for a boycott, including an open letter signed by over 160 Irish sports figures
- Playing the match forced complicity: Irish players had to observe protocols honoring Israel (anthems, etc.) that implicitly normalized Israeli participation in international sport despite its conduct
- Israeli fans' continued chanting in support of the IDF during the match, alongside alleged racist abuse directed at an Irish player, demonstrated the political nature of Israel's presence in international sport and vindicated boycott concerns
- The FAI's institutional cowardice and equivocation—contrasted with individual player Gavin Bazunu's principled refusal to play—show that the governing bodies failed a moral test that individuals recognized and acted upon
- UEFA and the FAI's logistical maneuvers (relocating games, restricting ticket access, downplaying coverage) reveal they understood the political toxicity of the fixtures but chose avoidance over principled cancellation
Assumptions
- Sporting boycotts are an effective and appropriate tool for political protest against state actions
- Athletic competitions cannot be meaningfully separated from the political conduct of the nations involved
- The designation of Israel's actions as 'genocide' is accurate and sufficiently established to justify exclusionary action
- Precedents set by boycotting apartheid South Africa are analogous and applicable to the Israel situation
- Governing bodies like the FAI and UEFA have a moral obligation to take political stances rather than maintain neutrality in sport