A coalition of trade unions, Palestinian solidarity groups and football supporters groups is calling on sports teams around the country to show their opposition to the sportswashing of genocide and solidarity with the Palestinian people by taking part in a short protest action at competitive games between 20th and 27th September.
The ‘Turn Your Back on Genocide, Not Palestine’ action will involve players turning their backs for a short period before matches, in remembrance of the tens of thousands of Palestinian children and hundreds of sportspeople killed during the genocide and in opposition to attempts to use sport to normalise Israel’s actions. The actions will then be shared on social media.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “Workers and trade unionists across Ireland have consistently shown their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their opposition to the destruction and loss of civilian life resulting from the genocide in that country.
“This initiative provides people involved in sport with a simple and dignified way of making clear that they will not turn their backs on what is happening in Palestine. Instead, they are being asked to turn their backs on genocide and on attempts to use sport to distract from it.”
He added: “We are encouraging sporting communities across the country to support this action between 20th and 27th September. It will also indicate the support within the Irish sporting community for those workers, whether professional sportspeople or working in any other sector, who wish to follow their conscience and have no part in the still scheduled to take place international football games involving Israel.”
Irish Sport for Palestine spokesperson, Joanne McDonald, said: “Sport has enormous power to bring people together but it should never be used to sanitise or provide cover for the killing of children.
“This is an action that teams at every level can participate in. It is peaceful, respectful and focused on remembering the victims while sending a clear message that the sporting community will not remain silent in the face of what is happening in Palestine.
“We hope clubs, players, coaches and supporters across Ireland will take part and help make this a visible national act of solidarity.”=
The action sponsors encourage teams playing competitive fixtures between 20th and 27th September to take part and share photographs of their participation on social media. Images should only show the backs of participants, particularly if the action involves underage teams.
The Irish men’s international football team are scheduled to play Israel in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday 27th September in Budapest, Hungary, and again in Serbia on 4th October.