'We shouldn't be in this position' on Israel games - Coleman

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• Published9 minutes ago

Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman insists questions on whether they should face Israel in the upcoming Nations League "should not have landed on our toes" and he "knows the difference between right and wrong" on the issue.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side, who host Qatar in a friendly in Dublin on Thursday [19:45 BST], are due to meet Israel in Group B3 of the Nations League at an expected neutral venue on 27 September before the return fixture in Dublin on 4 October.

Pressure has grown in Ireland for a boycott of those games because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign having held a protest at the Dáil (Irish parliament) on Tuesday.

The Football Association of Ireland [FAI] has confirmed the games will go ahead, with CEO David Courell saying the governing body had "no choice" and could face "serious consequences" if it pulled out of the games.

Earlier this week, the Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins said that if individual players felt strongly enough to boycott the games, "we are not going to stand against them", while Hallgrimsson feels it's "unfair for the players to be in this position".

Coleman, 37, supported his manager's assertion: "My views are very clear on the fact that Nathan and the younger players, and Ireland, the fans, the manager, it should not have landed on our toes to answer questions about this.

"It should have been dealt with above us. I am a dad, I am a husband, I've got a heart, I know the difference between right and wrong.

"I mean if I ask you the same question, I'm sure you're all of the same opinion of what's happening. It's awful, it is extremely sad and it's a very difficult position for the players to be in.

"I don't think we should be in this position. Absolutely not. But of course we've got to answer on it. It is very uncomfortable."

'You know our feelings as human beings'

A 'Stop The Game' campaign has been launched by Irish Sport For Palestine, citing what it describes as "clear and ongoing serious breaches of Uefa and Fifa statute regarding Israeli teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands" and "a brutal system of apartheid and genocide, both of which are accepted by the Irish government".

Israel has regularly denied committing genocide or war crimes and has said its actions in Gaza have been justified as a means of self-defence.

The conflict in Gaza followed the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 72,500 people have been killed, according to the territory's health ministry.

It appears the calls for a boycott will increase as the autumn fixtures come into view and Coleman feels the scheduling of the games should be a matter for "the FAI, Uefa, whatever it is".

"I feel like it should not have landed on 22, 23, 24-year-old lads that are here to play for their country. It shouldn't have landed on them," Coleman continued.

"We represent our people, the people of Ireland, so we've got to take that into account of what their opinion is on it as well.

"It's not straightforward either. That's the human side, that's so, so important.

"Like everyone in here, like the manager talked on, it should not have been on our toes. Then there is the football side, and the sanctions and everything that comes with it. It is very difficult for us players, difficult for the manager, and all the staff that we are dealing with this. But of course, you know our feelings as human beings."

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