Seamus Coleman: ‘We shouldn’t be in this position’ at Israel Games

A ‘Stop the Game’ campaign launched by Irish Sport for PalestineIt described it as a “clear and ongoing serious breach of UEFA and FIFA law regarding the playing of Israeli teams in occupied Palestinian land” and “a brutal system of apartheid and genocide, both adopted by the Irish government”.

Israel has routinely denied committing genocide or war crimes and says its actions in Gaza were justified as self-defense.

The conflict in Gaza followed a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

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

Calls for a boycott look set to increase as the autumn matches loom and Coleman thinks the scheduling of games should be a matter for “the FAI, UEFA, whatever”.

“I think it shouldn’t have landed on 22, 23, 24-year-old guys who 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 have to take into account what their views are.

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

“Like everyone here, the way the manager spoke, it shouldn’t have been on our toes. Then there’s the football aspect, and the ban and what comes with it. It’s very difficult for our players, difficult for the manager and all the staff that we’re dealing with. But of course, you know our feelings as people.”