SIPTU has reiterated its support for members who refuse to participate in the hosting, servicing or facilitation of the upcoming soccer matches between Ireland and Israel.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team are scheduled to face Israel in Debrecen in Hungary on 27 September for the ‘away’ tie, before the return ‘home’ fixture on 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia as part of the UEFA Nations League.
SIPTU said it supports members “who have raised conscientious objections to involvement in these fixtures”, adding that it “continue to do so”.
“No worker should be forced to choose between their employment and their conscience,” it said.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Greg Ennis said: “When facing an attempt by a regime to sportswash a genocide, workers have a right to act in accordance with their conscience and should not face disciplinary action or disadvantage for holding to a position supported by most Irish people.”
Such workers, he said, are employed across the economy in sectors such as aviation, broadcasting, transport and hospitality.
Concern has been raised over the matches
Speaking at the launch for the ‘Stop the Game’ website in Dublin, he said the Government and the FAI’s “intent on forcing such decisions upon workers and those seeking to represent their country is one of the greatest failures in moral leadership in recent decades”.
Mr Ennis, citing the Palestinian Football Association, said over 500 members of its football community have been killed since October 2023.
Concern has been raised over the matches and a campaign by Irish Sport for Palestine, titled ‘Stop the Game’ was launched, with an open letter backed by high-profile figures.
Former men’s national team manager Brian Kerr, 2019 FAI women’s player of the year Louise Quinn, Christy Moore, Fontaines DC and Kneecap were among the signatories.
In a statement after the vote, it said: “While acknowledging the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine and the upcoming UEFA Men’s Nations League fixtures, that the members recognise the profound impact that any non-fulfilment of UEFA fixtures would have on Irish football as a whole and on its future development, and accordingly endorses the association fulfilling its obligations in respect of those fixtures.”
The Government has previously said it has no role in organising such fixtures and it is a matter for the Football Association of Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland’s home game against Israel in the UEFA Nations League was originally scheduled to be played in Dublin, but was moved to a neutral country over what the FAI said were ” operational challenges that could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil”.
It will now take place behind closed doors in Serbia.