Over 160 Irish sportspeople urge Israel boycott

More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter urging the senior Ireland men's football team to boycott two upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, as the squad's manager said all 26 players remain willing to play. The letter was organised by Irish Sport for Palestine as part of the Stop The Game Campaign and released on Monday, September 21, 2026. Signatories include Olympian Ciara Mageean, women's national team defender Louise Quinn, former rugby international Tony Ward, and GAA figures such as Rena Buckley. Ireland are scheduled to face Israel on September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary, and on October 4 in Serbia. Both fixtures are at neutral venues, with the second match moved from Dublin and set to be played behind closed doors. The letter calls on the players to act collectively and refuse to participate in both games. It accuses the FAI, UEFA, and the Irish Government of failing the players by allowing the fixtures to proceed, and alleges statute violations, apartheid, and genocide connected to the wider conflict. These characterisations are the signatories' assertions and have not been independently verified in the material reviewed.