Dublin / PNN /  by Roddy Keenan

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has voted to submit a motion to the European football governing body (UEFA) that will ban Israel from all UEFA competitions.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the FAI on 8th November, 74 clubs voted in favour, with 7 against and 2 abstaining, to suspend Israeli club teams and the national side from all European tournaments.

The violations of UEFA statutes that the FAI based their decision on referred to ‘the organisation of clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association, in breach of Fifa Statutes (Article 73) and Uefa Statutes (Article 5),' and the 'failure’ of the IFA (Israeli Football Association) ‘to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy.’

The FAI’s move comes weeks after a United Nations panel called for Israel to be suspended by both FIFA, (the governing body for world football), and UEFA.

Following this, Norwegian and Turkish football chiefs echoed these calls, but the Irish association has been the first to take action in furtherance of the matter.

The FAI motion was originally moved by Bohemians Football Club, based in Dublin. ‘Bohs’, as they are known, have consistently used their platform to highlight the Palestinian struggle and the ongoing genocide being enacted by the Zionist apartheid regime.

In May 2024, the club hosted a historic match between the Palestinian national ladies team and the Bohemians ladies’ side. The game took place on the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, and the Palestinian ladies, playing their first ever match in Europe, won the tie 2-1.

Prior to this, in February 2023, Bohemians had produced a playing shirt that incorporated the Palestinian colours into it, and funds raised through its sales were donated to Tulkarem refugee camp.

Speaking on Irish radio channel Newstalk, Daniel Lambert, the chief operating officer of Bohemians, who is also the manager of the rap band Kneecap, another vocal and uncompromising supporter of Palestine, pointed out that the FAI motion was not actually related to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, but to persistent Israeli violations of important UEFA rules over many years.

'This is about very serious breaches of UEFA statutes that one country is being permitted to breach with no repercussion and no road map to remedy,' explained Lambert.

‘That's inexcusable and every member of UEFA has an obligation to uphold UEFA statutes. Israel should not be playing any games and they should immediately remove teams playing on occupied land.’

The FAI will now submit a formal motion to the UEFA executive committee requesting the immediate suspension of the Israeli FA from UEFA competitions ‘due to its violating two independent provisions of UEFA statutes.’

They will also 'call on UEFA to publish transparent criteria for the suspension or exclusion of member associations to ensure equal treatment of all members.'