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Irish Footballers, Celebrities Urge Boycott of Israel Match
The open letter has 38 signatories, including Brian Kerr and Louise Quinn, as the FAI says forfeiting the games would bring serious consequences.
Leading figures from Irish football and the arts signed an open letter titled "Stop the Game" on Wednesday, urging the Football Association of Ireland to boycott upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel.
This campaign follows a landslide vote last year where 93% of FAI members instructed the organization to press UEFA for Israel's suspension, citing alleged breaches of statutes regarding teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands.
Thirty-Eight signatories include former men's manager Brian Kerr, women's player Louise Quinn, and Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland chair Roberto Lopes, who argues the team must not be used to "sportswash."
FAI Chief Executive David Courell previously confirmed in February the association has "no choice" but to fulfill fixtures, warning that forfeiting would "materially harm the long-term sporting interests of Irish football."
Ireland is scheduled to play Israel away on 27 September and at home in Dublin on 4 October, while Prime Minister Micheal Martin maintains that sporting fixtures should proceed despite the political conflict.