SIPTU representatives have condemned the Government for failing to address the fundamental moral and political issues arising from proposed football fixtures involving Israel, in a manner which ignores the overwhelming view of the Irish people on these games.
The Union said that the Dáil votes taking place today and tomorrow on a complete boycott of the fixtures should be used to send a clear message that Ireland cannot look away from the genocide, ethnic cleansing and illegal bombing which is being carried out by the Israeli State in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “It is not enough for Government Ministers to simply refuse to attend a match or look the other way. The Government must lead, invoke the will of the Irish people and of our international footballers, who clearly do not wish to play Israel in these circumstances. As a major funder of the FAI, the Government cannot seek to hide away from its responsibilities. It should encourage and, if necessary, insist that the FAI does the right thing.
“SIPTU members have previously expressed serious concerns about facilitating the game in Dublin, stating that action could be taken by workers to stop the fixture from being played.
“Losing six points and UEFA ranking places should not even be a consideration when set against the genocide being committed by an apartheid state which is celebrating its intention to conduct a mass political murder campaign against Palestinian prisoners later this year.
“International football is an inherently political activity. How our Government can even consider facilitating such sportswashing by the Israeli state after it kidnapped Irish citizens who were participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters and brutalised them on camera beggars belief.”
He added: “We must be on the right side of history. Players should not be placed in the invidious position of having to choose between their place in a team and their conscience. The Government must represent the will of the people who do not want to be complicit in attempts to normalise genocide.
“As with the boycott of apartheid South Africa, it is time for Ireland, and the Irish trade union movement, to lead on this issue. We must not be intimidated by the rogue regimes in Tel Aviv or Washington; we must not force international football players to sully their good names; we must stand up for humanity in the face of horror.”