principles I see are to blame everybody else and take no responsibility or action for yourselves. It is FIFA's fault, it is UEFA's fault, and it is the FAI's fault. My worry is who is next for the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. It will
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thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion.
Listening to the Minister of State's speech, with references to governing bodies, UEFA, regulations, rules, etc., you would imagine this is a mere matter of sports administration and competitions. Let us engage with that for just a minute
forget about the sanctions. There is a court proceeding that can go further than this. I do not even think UEFA has the balls to take us on because it will set a precedent. If we do the right thing now, we can stand up here
Ukraine, both economic and sporting sanctions were imposed, and rightly so. There are many other examples but across the world, governments, FIFA and UEFA in this instance are completely silent when it comes to the genocide in Palestine. They are content to allow Israel to continue to participate
connection with its players. Polish players stood up against the sportswashing of Putin's murderous regime and forced the hand of UEFA and FIFA. I commend the Polish Football Association and the players for that stance. That is exactly the approach our football association should be taking
right decision. After these countries took this action themselves, FIFA then announced that Russia would be suspended indefinitely from international competitions and UEFA announced that Russian clubs would similarly be suspended. Those countries took that decision because, as it was put in a statement released by the Polish
Palestinian people. His response and that of the Government have been utterly disingenuous. Nobody is asking the Government to usurp the role of UEFA or the FAI. The Taoiseach is being asked to show leadership, support the position that this game must be stopped, protect Irish players from
game, which I find highly hypocritical when the Taoiseach then says he will not support the FAI in changing its decision to UEFA not to hold the game. Will the Taoiseach allow a free vote on the motion from Sinn Féin this evening and from
When apartheid existed in South Africa and when war engulfed the former Yugoslavia, boycotts and sanctions followed. When Russia invaded Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA acted within days. Yet, despite all of this, there remains a dangerous and pervasive attitude that treats the Israeli state with kid gloves
weeks, we will commemorate the massacre in Srebrenica when 7,000 men and boys were murdered. When Russia invaded Ukraine the EU and UEFA could not move quickly enough to impose sporting sanctions on Russia. Tomorrow we will discuss sanctions in relation to Israel. Just today
confirmed that it does not expect a significant number of Israeli fans to travel to Ireland for the fixture. In accordance with UEFA rules, home legs of fixtures cannot be played in another jurisdiction unless concerns are raised about the capacity for the fixture to be held securely
athletes.
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
boycott. Fans, players and unions are all against the match going ahead. Some 93% of FAI members voted for Israel's suspension. UEFA ignored this and is now standing over an inexcusable double standard having banned Russia in 2022. There is no justification for our playing the terrorist
inflicted mass genocide on the people of Palestine.
Let us remember the double standards. When Russia and Belarus invaded Ukraine, it took UEFA and FIFA just four days to ban them, but Israel? Complete inaction. On one hand, our Government tells us Israel is carrying out a genocide
cannot stand by and watch the utter destruction of Palestinian life and the obliteration of Palestine. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, UEFA and FIFA did not hesitate. I am conscious that Kaja Kallas is about 250 m from this Chamber today. We know the EU took
beyond their control.
If international sporting sanctions are to be imposed, those decisions should be made by the recognised international sporting authorities. UEFA and FIFA exist precisely to govern international football and to make decisions regarding participation, suspension and fixtures. Whether people agree with their decisions
also recognise that Irish athletes should not be punished for events beyond their control. Decisions on international fixtures belong to the FAI, UEFA and FIFA. Sport should unite people and not become another battlefield for political disputes. That is why we are putting forward our amendment here this
decision. If the FAI has to make a decision, it has to do so on the back of cowardice by FIFA and UEFA. They did not take the same approach to the genocidal Israeli regime as they did to Russia when it invaded Ukraine. By the same token
elected us to get our priorities straight and right. This amendment rightly states that decisions on fixtures and tournament participation are matters for UEFA and the international sporting bodies, not unilateral grandstanding by the Irish Government. We should respect those determinations.
Withdrawing or boycotting carries real consequences - sporting
Bohemians brought forward a motion, backed by Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City, which was then followed by Norway, Spain, Türkiye and then UEFA itself, to stop the killing of children and civilians, and to stop the genocide. Did the Geneva Convention fall
sport to normalise its apartheid system, the genocide or systematic abuse and its torture of Palestinians. Israel needs to be suspended from UEFA and the FAI needs to cancel its game against this apartheid regime
routine from the Government. This is deeply shocking. It is not enough to try to hide behind the spin. Of course, the FAI, UEFA and FIFA make the sporting decisions. Of course they govern their sporting codes. We recognise that in our motion. We ask merely that
guess Zionists are delighted with Europe's inaction, grovelling and meekness, which is further damaging the strength of the European Union.
On sportswashing, UEFA and football, the majority of Irish people do not want the games in September, either home or away in Israel, to take place. Imagine
wear IDF jerseys for publicity stunts - absolutely dripping in blood, racism against Arabs and violence and they have breached all the rules of UEFA and FIFA but that is fine, business as usual. And the Minister tells us she cares about the genocide.
Bertie Ahern has been
something as simple as telling players they do not have to play this game and demanding that Israel should be kicked out of UEFA, like they should be kicked out of Eurovision. Instead, it is pushing the players
In parliamentary questions
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