SINN FÉIN TD for Clare Donna McGettigan called in the Dáil last week for the upcoming UEFA Nations League match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel to be stopped.
Deputy McGettigan was speaking on her party’s bill which called on the government to support calls to stop the match on moral and legal grounds.
McGettigan said, “Minister, I support this motion, and I have to say, your amendment to this is shameful. And you didn’t even mention once in your speech what is going on in Gaza- the genocide that is happening there.”
“Across Ireland, a huge number of organisations, community groups, sporting bodies, trade unions, public representatives and ordinary citizens have spoken out. They are not doing so because this is easy; they are doing so because they believe there comes a time silence becomes complicity.”
“Genocide is genocide. Moving this match to another venue does not make us any less complicit; it simply makes it out of sight and out of mind. There is no hiding, however, from the reality facing the Palestinian people. We cannot look away from the killing of innocent civilians or the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and sporting facilities, an infrastructure that should be nurturing the next generation of athletes”, the Shannon-based TD added.
“Sport does not exist in a moral vacuum. It never has done. When faced with grave injustices, sporting bodies have acted before. UEFA and FIFA moved with remarkable speed when it came to Russia. Within days of the invasion, Russia was suspended from international competition and countries that refused to play Russia were not penalised.”
“What is the difference? Why is it not the same in this case? The principle was clear then. There are moments when the values sport claims to uphold must be defended” McGettigan said.
“Why should a different standard apply now? Penalties and sanctions that may or may not happen can be appealed, but the consequences facing Palestinian families cannot be appealed. The loss of life and destruction of communities cannot simply be set aside because they are politically inconvenient. There is a moral obligation here.”
“A genocide is being played out before the eyes of the world, yet those responsible appear untouchable. We need to speak up and we need action to confront this suffering. We cannot allow a business-as-usual attitude. This is more than a football match. It is about whether we are prepared to act according to our values. If we believe that sport should not be used to normalise or distract from atrocities, then this match should not go ahead. Stop the game”, she concluded.
