Republic of Ireland v Israel: Brian Kerr calls on FAI to boycott Israel games.

Former Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has accused the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) of not having a “spine” over the planned Nations League game against Israel later this year.

On Thursday, an open letter from Irish Sport for Palestine launched a ‘Stop the Game’ campaign, calling on the FAI to boycott the September 27 and October 4 matches.

Brian Kerr, a former Republic of Ireland manager, was one of 39 signatories to the letter McClean posted on his Instagram account endorsing the campaign.

While admitting “it’s a tough one” for players who will lose “the chance to play a game of football for your country”, McClean – capped 103 times for the Republic of Ireland – said boycotting the games “wouldn’t do much if anyone objects” and also suggested “the decision should be taken out of their hands”.

“The game should never go ahead,” the 37-year-old Derry City player posted on his Instagram account.

“If there’s one country that should recognize oppression and turmoil it’s Ireland.. although with the decision makers in this country you’d be wrong to think we’ve ever had a history of that.”

Irish Sport for Palestine maintains that the games should not take place, describing them as “a clear and ongoing serious breach of UEFA and FIFA law regarding Israeli teams playing in occupied Palestinian land” and “a brutal system of apartheid and genocide, both of which are accepted by the Irish government”.

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