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Irish comedian and activist Tadhg Hickey has urged the Republic of Ireland football team to boycott its upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against Israel over the war in Gaza, accusing the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) of failing to show leadership.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Hickey said most people in Ireland supported a boycott but that the decision had effectively been left to the players. He questioned the circumstances surrounding a poll in which a majority of players reportedly backed fulfilling the fixture.
The FAI said on Saturday that the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League matches against Israel would go ahead after consultations with the players, who held differing views. The association said a majority supported playing the matches and that it respected the position of all players.
Campaigners call for players to withdraw
Irish media have reported that several players, including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, asked to withdraw from the match against Israel. The reports have not been independently confirmed in the interview.
The fixture is also the focus of the “Stop The Game” campaign, organized by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine. The campaign is calling on Ireland’s players to withdraw as Israel’s military operation in Gaza continues.
Campaign spokesperson Shane Moore said pressure on the FAI and the players would continue and that there was still a possibility the match could be canceled.
Moore also criticized the arrangements for supporters, saying Irish fans had not been allocated tickets while Israeli supporters would be able to attend. The claims were not independently verified in the interview.
Matches to be played in Hungary and Serbia
Campaigners have questioned the decision to stage the first match in Debrecen, Hungary, and the return fixture in Backa Topola, Serbia, citing what they described as links between those locations and Israel. Those claims were also not independently substantiated.
Hickey praised Bazunu for what he described as a principled decision and said he hoped other players would follow him. Moore called the goalkeeper “a hero” and claimed that at least six other players had voted against playing the match.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason Knight was the first national-team player to publicly say that the match should not be played. “I don’t think the game should be going ahead, but it is going ahead,” the 25-year-old Bristol City player said.
Fixture details
More than 160 Irish athletes have signed an open letter urging the national team not to play. The “Stop The Game” campaign has also organized demonstrations calling for Israel’s suspension from international football.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson previously said some players felt “really uncomfortable” about the fixtures and described the team as playing “against genocide”. His comments drew a strong response from the Israeli Football Association.
The first match will be held at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen on Sunday. The return fixture, officially Ireland’s home match, has been moved from Dublin to Backa Topola and will be played behind closed doors on Oct. 4.
