Photo via BBC Sport

Irish sportspeople urge Republic of Ireland to boycott Israel game

Over one hundred and sixty athletes from across Ireland have formally requested that the nation's male football squad refuse to participate in upcoming matches against Israel. The appeal targets upcoming fixtures scheduled for late September in Hungary and early October within Serbia, arguing that authorities failed to intervene beforehand.

Signatories suggest that declining to play would demonstrate athletic solidarity and uphold historical anti-colonial principles.

Prominent figures backing the petition include track athlete Ciara Mageean, former football player Louise Quinn, retired rugby player Tony Ward, and boxers Tyrone McKenna alongside Eric Donovan. Additional athletic signers feature Gaelic games personalities such as Padraig O'Hora, Joe Brolly, Colm O'Rourke, Michael Darragh Macauley, Philly McMahon, Valerie Mulcahy, and Rena Buckley, together with para-athlete Alan Dineen and ultimate frisbee competitor Stephen Jones.