Daire Hancock

MSc Sport Management Graduate UCD

[Daniel McDonnell @McDonnellDan]

To twist this in a parochial direction - the FAI EGM & Ireland/Israel etc - whatever your view on the situation, the idea that FIFA have any credibility in enforcing rules around political intervention in football matters has never stood up and shouldn't be a factor in any debate

[Palestine Football Association @Palestine_fa]

Palestine Football Association Statement
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) wishes to clarify recent media reports and public commentary concerning the forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixture between the Republic of Ireland and Israel, following references made to the PFA in statements and subsequent coverage of the matter.
First and foremost, the PFA has not issued any statement endorsing, approving, or supporting the decision to proceed with the match. Any interpretation suggesting that the PFA has given its blessing to the fixture does not accurately reflect our position.
The PFA maintains a long-standing principle of respecting the autonomy of fellow national associations and refraining from interference in their internal affairs or decision-making processes. This principle is particularly important to us as an association that has suffered for decades from interference, restrictions, and violations of its rights within the international football system. Respect for the independence of national associations is not merely a procedural matter for the PFA; it is a principle rooted in our own lived experience.
Accordingly, while the PFA respects the right of every association to determine how it navigates its own sporting, legal, and regulatory obligations, such respect should not be misconstrued as endorsement of any particular decision.
The PFA also wishes to reiterate its deep appreciation for the historic solidarity shown by the Irish people and for the principled positions repeatedly expressed by the Football Association of Ireland, Irish clubs, supporters, players, trade unions, civil society organizations, and public representatives in support of Palestinian rights and human dignity.
At the same time, our position regarding Israeli football remains unchanged and unequivocal. The PFA continues to pursue accountability through FIFA and other international sporting bodies for Israel’s persistent violations of FIFA statutes, the systematic obstruction of Palestinian football, and the devastating impact of Israel’s war on all aspects of Palestinian life, including athletes, clubs, facilities, and sporting life. More than one thousand Palestinian athletes have been killed, and large parts of Palestine’s sporting infrastructure have been destroyed. Palestinian football is enduring one of the darkest periods in its history.
For this reason, the PFA rejects any characterization that could be interpreted as providing political or moral cover for Israel’s continued participation in international football while these grave violations persist. The PFA would not, and will not, be party to any effort that normalizes these realities or contributes to the sportswashing of crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
Our struggle has always been directed toward ensuring that international football applies its own rules consistently and without exception. We will therefore continue to work through legitimate sporting and legal mechanisms to defend the rights of Palestinian athletes, protect Palestinian football, and seek accountability in accordance with FIFA regulations, the principles of the Olympic Charter, and the values that sport strives to uphold.
The PFA remains committed to these efforts and to the pursuit of justice, dignity, and equal treatment within the international world of sport.
Dima Said
Official Spokesperson
Palestinian Football Federation
[phone]
[email protected].

[Bohemian Football Club @bfcdublin]

Ireland must not play Israel in the UEFA nations league.

#StopTheGame

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

"For the past year, FIFA has leased an office on the 17th floor of New York’s Trump Tower that has sat all but empty. The rent goes to President Trump’s family business, but soccer officials say the space sits largely idle." https://t.co/3CrHrid6ls

[Conor O'Neill @conoraon]

Letter to the Irish Times in response to Saturday's edition, and the claim that Ireland might have something to learn from Israel's illegal policy of displacement, demolition and settlement. Should have probably just let it go; couldn't.

[Gavin Cooney @gcooney93]

Our sports minister gave football a good kicking re flares - still waiting to hear his condemnation of their use at GAA and schools rugby games - and yet is fleeing from a matter of far greater importance to his voters, and leaving the bad PR to Irish football. How Ireland Works

[Daniel Lambert @dlLambo]

Richie Sadlier👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

"It's baffling to me, how...it is controversial or contentious or objectionable that someone suggests...do you know what maybe let's not play football against them.

Maybe instead of playing a match against them, maybe let's not play a match."

[Everton @Everton]

Thank you, Seamus. 💙

[RTÉ One @RTEOne]

"I don't know when the end of the journey will come, but I know that sure as hell I'm going to enjoy every path along the way" ❤️

Ciara Mageean - an incredible woman with an incredible outlook on life.

#RTEUncharted

[Richard Boyd Barrett @RBoydBarrett]

If you are so "appalled and shocked" by the treatment of the flotilla activists why did the government walk into the Dáil after issuing this statement and vote against sanctioning Israel when the same flotilla activists had explicitly called on you to support the sanctions bill?

[Catholic Arena @CatholicArena]

Scottish football club Celtic FC will wear a commemorative shirt in their title decider tomorrow to remember the mass starvation that led to the deaths of millions of Irish people in the 1840s and 1850s

[Brad Stulberg @BStulberg]

Men die by suicide at 4x the rate of women and one of the biggest drivers of that is that men are less likely to ask for help. Dana White is proof that you can be very rich and still an idiot.

[Andrew Brownhill @AndrewBrownhil]

If you read one thing today, make sure it's this statement by Arsène Wenger👇
🗣"One of the benefits of our job is the power to influence the course of someone's life in a positive way.”

[Dr. Colman Noctor @colnoc77]

“Movement breaks challenge traditional norms. They ask us to trust the science and recognise that learning is both cognitive and physiological”

https://t.co/C5qW8x5Ld4

[Daire Hancock @HancockDaire]

It was great to attend & learn from @StuartMcMillan1 🐐 massive thank you to the @the_ASCA for arranging and delivering on a quality event.

[Tony - Pod Guy - Groves @Trickstersworld]

Just received this video of the Kids in our Hind Rajab Centre, Nuseirat, Gaza showing their support to the Ireland football team. Sensational.
C’mon Ireland!
#COYBIG 💚⚽️🇮🇪🇵🇸⚽️💚

[TheJournal.ie @thejournal_ie]

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani namechecked James Connolly, Pádraig Pearse and Roger Casement in his St Patrick’s Day message.

Mamdani also referenced the Dunnes Stores strike against apartheid South Africa, as well as Troy Parrott’s winner over Hungary.
https://t.co/6BgEOG3qqk

[Ciarán Nugent @ciarannugent]

For those who would downplay our reputation internationally in relation to neutrality, contributions in the UN, our position on Gaza etc

The mayor of the most important city in the West just gave a specific nod to Dunnes workers and their role in ending South African apartheid

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York.

[Stephen Doyle @dubsoulrebel]

The FAI could refuse to play these games, precedent set by Poland and Sweden. UEFA could hand down a punishment. FAI could take their case to CAS based on the fact that UEFA has ignored its own statute book