Irish Pubs Refuse to Screen Israel Match in Protest Over Gaza War

On match days, Peadar Browns pub in Dublin’s historic Liberties area is usually jam-packed with football fans piling in to watch the game on various screens. As kickoff approached in the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League game against Israel on Sunday, there was a similarly busy crowd, with one significant difference: none of the televisions were on.

The pub made a deliberate decision not to show the game in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. Owner Aidan Brown stated that they committed a month ago not to show any upcoming Nations League fixtures until Ireland made a stand against Israel, noting they also skipped the Kosovo game. Brown compiled a list of venues refusing to screen the match, which reached 140 pubs and bars in Ireland and abroad before kickoff.

Ireland, a long-standing ally of the Palestinian cause, has faced intense global spotlight over whether its team would play the two scheduled games against Israel. Brown compared the atmosphere in Dublin to the 2002 Saipan drama involving Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy, emphasizing that the current debate centers on moral standards rather than football standards.

In Derry, Liam Doherty of the Delacroix bar described a similar bottom-up mobilization, while Rebecca O’Keeffe, chair of Irish Sport for Palestine, noted that the Stop the Game campaign has transformed into a mass movement across Ireland. Public opinion polls showed 76 percent of Irish football supporters opposed the match, and 63 percent of members of the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland voted against playing.

Despite public sentiment, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chose to proceed with the fixtures, passing a motion 75 votes to 32, despite a previous November vote where 93 percent of members favored seeking Israel’s suspension from UEFA competitions. The FAI cited potential consequences like points deductions. Daniel Lambert of Bohemian FC criticized the FAI's handling of the situation, while Susan Shalabi of the Palestinian Football Association argued that international governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA should have applied their own rules.

The decision ultimately fell to the players, with more than 160 Irish sportspeople signing an open letter calling for a boycott. Team coach Heimir Hallgrimsson noted players were uncomfortable, and midfielder Jason Knight stated the games should not happen. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu ultimately refused to play, drawing praise from Daniel Lambert for his courage.

As the Republic of Ireland prepares for another Nations League game against Israel and a match against Austria in Dublin, the pressure to boycott continues to grow. At Peadar Browns, Aidan Brown confirmed the televisions will remain off, asserting that football points pale in significance during a war.