Seamus Coleman: ‘We shouldn’t be in this position’ on Israel games

A ‘Stop The Game’ campaign has been launched by Irish Sport For Palestine, citing what it describes as “clear and ongoing serious breaches of Uefa and Fifa statute regarding Israeli teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands” and “a brutal system of apartheid and genocide, both of which are accepted by the Irish government”.

Israel has regularly denied committing genocide or war crimes and has said its actions in Gaza have been justified as a means of self-defence.

The conflict in Gaza followed the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 72,500 people have been killed, according to the territory’s health ministry.

It appears the calls for a boycott will increase as the autumn fixtures come into view and Coleman feels the scheduling of the games should be a matter for “the FAI, Uefa, whatever it is”.

“I feel like it should not have landed on 22, 23, 24-year-old lads that are here to play for their country. It shouldn’t have landed on them,” Coleman continued.

“We represent our people, the people of Ireland, so we’ve got to take that into account of what their opinion is on it as well.

“It’s not straightforward either. That’s the human side, that’s so, so important.

“Like everyone in here, like the manager talked on, it should not have been on our toes. Then there is the football side, and the sanctions and everything that comes with it. It is very difficult for us players, difficult for the manager, and all the staff that we are dealing with this. But of course, you know our feelings as human beings.”