Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign: "A day will come when no Irish team will countenance crossing the Palestinian picket line"

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign have posted a statement to their Instagram following Ireland's second Nation's League fixture against Israel in Bačka Topola, Serbia, on Sunday.

In the statement, the organisation condemned the fact that UEFA allowed Israel to compete in the Nation's League. They also claim that UEFA have not "acted even to uphold is own statutes which Israel is in breach of."

The IPSC criticised the Irish government, saying that they "failed in their obligation to uphold international law" by not taking a clear stance on the issue.

They gave the example of government representatives saying the matches should be played, while also saying the Sports Ministers would not attend the home game when it was still scheduled for Dublin.

They called out the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for allowing the team to play against Israel, the IPSC emphasise how the FAI could have made a historic stance by boycotting both games.

"Instead, it has participated in the sportswashing of Israel, even as it perpetrates the crimes of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Palestinian people," the group wrote about the FAI.

The IPSC continued the statement by highlighting the amount of suppory they have received from the public, sportspeople, Irish sports media, and trade unions.

They mentioned Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who refused to play the matches against Israel: "We have the courageous and principled stand of Gavin Bazunu to make us proud."

They explained that the amount of attention the campaign has gotten in recent months by media outlets has also further highlighted Israel's actions in Gaza.

Following the support for the boycott of the Ireland and Israel fixtures, and the backlash FAI and UEFA have faced, the organisation hopes that in the future the Irish team will not hesistate to refuse to play Israel.

"A day will come when no Irish team will countenance crossing the Palestinian picket line," the end of the statement reads.

The IPSC have been heavily involved in the 'Stop The Game' campaign. During Ireland's match against Austria last Thursday at the Aviva Stadium, they held a demonstration to call for a cancellation of the second game.

They gathered outside of the event with banners reading 'Stop The Game.' The group also handed out leaflets that depicted the Palestinian flag to fans attending the match, in an effort to raise awareness about the campaign.

Read the full statement below:

 

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