Irish players “hung out to dry” by FAI over Israel controversy, says Ennis

Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis has said that the FAI board must resign after a “shameful and shambolic” weekend.

After a much-publicised drama involving the players (and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrawing from the squad on moral grounds) and a 3-0 victory over Israel on Sunday night, there is still the small matter of the “away” game still to play.

The match went ahead after a crisis meeting between the squad on Saturday, but Ennis, who serves as the Soc Dems’ sports spokesperson, said that the FAI board must resign after forcing the players into that position.

“That decision, which should never have been left up to individual players, will leave a dark stain on Irish football and this country. It is at odds with the majority view of the Irish people,” the Dublin Central TD said.

“I applaud the courage of Gavin Bazunu, whose decision not to play this game showed real leadership. This is what representing your country looks like. This is what representing humanity, in the face of a genocide, looks like.”

Ennis said, “it is now clear that our players have been hung out to dry by both the FAI and the Irish government. The gross mismanagement of this whole debacle is the fault of the FAI board, who were more concerned with six points in the Nations League than a live-streamed genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza. For that reason, the board must resign. I see no future for them.”

Ennis also said that the government are responsible for the “disgusting fiasco.”

“It failed to assure the FAI that if they took the decision not to play the games against Israel, they would be protected and supported. This is despite the fact that both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste agree that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza and the Taoiseach using a UN address this week to publicly warn that the world would be shamed unless it took action against Israel.”

“While the Irish government calls for action on a world stage, it refuses to act at home. The result of this moral cowardice is that Irish players are now set to line up and play against a country that is committing genocide and attempting to permanently destroy any chance of a Palestinian state being established,” he said.

“Ultimately, no penalty or sanction that could be meted out by UEFA could ever compare with the ethnic cleansing and mass murder of men, women and children. What is six points stood up against the charred remains of babies that we’re seeing in Gaza?”