Sir, – Speaking of the contentious Nations League fixtures against Israel, the FAI’s director of football John Martin said “we shouldn’t be in the position where we have to play the games” but “the board supported by the executive made the decision to play the game” (Soccer, September 14th).
One would swear that the FAI leadership had no agency in “the decision”. Their threadbare bogeymen – “lost income”, sanctions from Uefa, and “significant and lasting harm” to Irish football – ring hollow, and have been dismissed by figures such as Brian Kerr.
Uefa has precedence in acquiescing to certain combinations – such as Spain versus Gibraltar – not being drawn together. As for “significant and lasting harm”, this historic trough for the FAI’s popularity – as Martin acknowledges, “very, very different than anything we’ve experienced before” – will hardly boost corporate sponsorship.
No player wants to let down their team, much less their country, in an hour of need. As Martin acknowledges, the players will be the ones “on the pitch, but it was not their decision to play”.
RM Block
It is deeply unfair that the FAI’s leadership have left this historic dilemma to the players, carrying on their young shoulders the duty of representing their country in unpopular matches for which the FAI will not sell tickets, Government Ministers have announced that they will not attend, and for which RTÉ will not provide commentary. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN Ó ÉIGEARTAIGH,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Reading Fintan Drury’s piece, I agree that “in sport the FAI is not alone in its abandonment of ethical conduct” (“Ireland are set to play Israel – which means we have already lost”, Soccer, September 16th).
However, it seems that sporting organisations other than the FAI and GAA have not garnered much attention. Athletics Ireland recently sent an exceptionally talented team of athletes to Birmingham for the European Athletics Championships, where they competed against athletes from all over Europe, including Israel.
Like the GAA, the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland’s title sponsor is Allianz. Our athletes, and others worldwide, including those from Israel, are now working towards the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
Teams have been banned from the Olympics for many humanitarian reasons over the years, including Russia following the invasion of Ukraine; however, Israel has not yet been sanctioned in this way. It seems unfathomable given the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel. – Yours, etc,
NAOISE WALDRON,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – The decision by RTÉ not to take part in the Eurovision Contest next year because of Israel’s involvement, and not to transmit the event, makes sense. But how then can we, as a country, play games with that same country?
We need to use all available opportunities to isolate and condemn Israel until it realises that there is no place in normal international relationships for those responsible for genocide and until there is a change in their policies to Gaza and the West Bank.
We should be consistent and keep the pressure on. – Yours, etc,
PAUL MULLIGAN,
Dublin 6.
