Shamrock Rovers captain Roberto Lopes has a simple message for the FAI: "Stop the game." And he's not alone — former Ireland manager Brian Kerr, 2019 FAI women's player of the year Louise Quinn, and 35 others have signed an open letter demanding the association refuse to play its two scheduled UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel.
The campaign, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine under the banner "Stop the Game", lands at a pointed moment. Last year, 93% of FAI members voted to instruct the organisation to push for Israel's suspension from UEFA. The governing body went ahead and booked the fixtures anyway.
The FAI's position isn't shifting — yet
In February, FAI CEO David Courell said Ireland has "no choice" but to fulfil the ties, warning of "serious consequences" and material harm to Irish football's long-term interests if they forfeit. The organisation says it has consulted with the government and An Garda Síochána and is satisfied the home fixture can go ahead in Dublin.
That's the institutional line. The letter signatories aren't buying it.
Lopes, who is preparing to represent Cape Verde at this summer's World Cup, framed the argument in terms the FAI will find hard to sidestep publicly. "We can't ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the sheer loss of life there has to take precedence over any sporting consideration," he wrote. "Ireland has an opportunity here to lead — to be a pioneer and do what others won't."
The letter also cites what it calls "clear and ongoing serious breaches" of UEFA and FIFA statutes regarding Israeli teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands, and challenges the FAI to enforce those rules themselves if UEFA won't.
Who signed — and why it matters
The 38 signatories include figures from inside and outside football. Musician Christy Moore, bands Fontaines DC and Kneecap all added their names — which tells you this has moved well beyond a niche sporting debate into a broader cultural conversation in Ireland.
Within football, Kerr and Quinn carry real weight. Kerr managed the men's national team and remains widely respected in Irish soccer circles. Quinn captained the women's side and won the FAI's own player of the year award. These aren't fringe voices.
- Roberto Lopes — Shamrock Rovers captain and PFAI chair
- Brian Kerr — former Republic of Ireland men's manager
- Louise Quinn — 2019 FAI women's player of the year
- Christy Moore, Fontaines DC, Kneecap — among the non-sporting signatories
The FAI has drawn its line. The question now is whether the volume of public pressure — and the credibility of those applying it — is enough to redraw it before the fixtures arrive.
