'An utter shame that the FAI has chosen to cross the Palestinian picket line’ – IPSC responds to FAI announcement and salutes Gavin Bazunu
Striking display of massive “RED CARD GENOCIDAL ISRAEL” and “IRELAND STANDS WITH PALESTINE” banners on Ha’penny Bridge to coincide with Sunday’s contentious match.
Press Release, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Saturday 26 September
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) responded to today’s announcement that the FAI intends to go ahead with the Nations League fixtures against Israel.
To show the massive groundswell of outrage against the FAI’s decision to cross the Palestinian picket line, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) activists will have a visually striking display of massive 22-metre-long banners saying “RED CARD GENOCIDAL ISRAEL” and “IRELAND STANDS WITH PALESTINE” on Dublin’s iconic Ha’penny Bridge to coincide with the contentious Debrecen match at 7:30pm on Sunday 27 September.
Press photographers can be assured of iconic and extremely topical images that exemplify Ireland’s solidarity with Palestine.
Responding to today’s news announcement by the FAI, IPSC Chairperson Zoë Lawlor said:
“It is an utter shame that the FAI has chosen to cross the Palestinian picket line and to play the first Nations League fixture against apartheid Israel. For some time on Saturday it looked as if the players were going to refuse to play and the outpouring of support in Ireland for that was huge. We salute Gavin Bazunu who stood up for what is right, and we commend any of the players who stated they did not want to play these games.”
“The government and the FAI should never have left this decision to the players. We wonder if anyone in the FAI sat down with the squad to talk about the depth of feeling in Ireland, our history of struggle, the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement and our immense solidarity with the Palestinian people. Did they tell them they would be forever seen as legends if they did not play? If not, they did a huge disservice to them.”
“As Israel commits genocide against the Palestinian people, murdering at least 73,000 people in Gaza, including 566 football players, it is unconscionable that any Irish team would play them.”
“The FAI has turned down the unique opportunity to show leadership, to reflect the will of the majority of people here, of so much of the football community, and to be on the right side of history. Imagine the legacy they could have created, imagine the domino effect.”
“Instead they have grossly mismanaged this from start to finish and passed up every opportunity to show integrity.”
“We were hoping to welcome home the Irish team as heroes for not playing, instead we will be holding a demonstration at the Ireland Austria game at 6.30pm on Thursday to show our solidarity with the Palestinian people and our huge objection to the FAI participating in the sportswashing of Israeli apartheid and genocide. We are also asking those attending the match to come early and stand with us for a while.”
“The work in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality goes on.”
“We call on the FAI to STOP THE GAMES - it’s not too late. We call on the government to act to stop the games if the FAI continues to refuse!”
ENDS
For further details or interview [DETAILS NOT FOR PUBLICATION]
Zoë Lawlor I
PSC Chairperson (and Cultural and Sporting Liaison) 087 950 4397 or email culturalliaison@ipsc.ie
Seamus Fox, IPSC organiser: 086 338 4758
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