Bohemian Football Club and the Palestinian Football Association have confirmed that a friendly match will take place in May.
On May 15th, the 76th anniversary of Nakba, the Bohemians women’s team will play against the Palestinian women’s team.
The match will take place in Dalymount Park, with the intention of eventually playing a game in Palestine.
The funds raised through the match will be used to facilitate the visit of the Palestinian football team as well as provide funds for humanitarian relief efforts in Palestine.
President of the Palestine Football Association Lt. General Jibril Al-Rjoub held a meeting with board members to explore other areas where Bohs and the Palestinian FA can collaborate and potentially sign a memorandum of understanding.
The club said “we would like to thank the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid for facilitating the talks that led to this game being agreed.”
“We hope that this game can highlight the positive power of football and raise significant funds to further support humanitarian efforts in Palestine, as well as covering costs for the women’s team to travel to Ireland.”
The club said they hoped to see a sold-out Dalymount Park in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian national team and their nation.
Matt Devaney, President of Bohemian FC he hopes the match “raise a substantial sum to assist people in a truly dire situation.”
Ken Kiernan, Bohemian FC women’s team manager said “I am delighted to have the opportunity to play this fixture. It will be great for our group to play at such an occasion, in what should be a sold-out Dalymount Park, and test ourselves against women from another part of the world.”
Bohemians Chief Operating Officer Daniel Lambert said: “football has enormous power to be a force for good across the world; Dalymount Park will send out a very important message of solidarity from Ireland to the Palestinian people on May 15.”