Group removed from Dept of Sport following Israel protest

A group of protesters have been removed from the Department of Sport in Dublin after they occupied the government building in opposition to a football game between Ireland and Israel in October.

The #StopTheGame activists occupied the lobby of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport on Leeson Lane.

In a statement, the group said it is part of a continuing protest which will intensify until the two Nations League fixtures are stopped.

"The Government has placed pressure on the FAI, who are also culpable, to fulfil these fixtures. Taoiseach Micheál Martin was one of the first to demand that the FAI play these games," the statement read.

"Ireland is a part of the International Criminal Court and as such should not be engaging in sportswashing. We are failing in our moral, humanitarian and legal obligations as a country in playing these games."

Spokesman, Independent Dublin City Councillor Cieran Perry said that pressure should not be put on players about fulfilling the fixture and that the FAI and Government should make the decision to withdraw from the Nations League ties.

Last month, the FAI confirmed that the Republic of Ireland's home Nations League game against Israel would not be played in Ireland and would instead take place behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia on Sunday 4 October.

In a statement, the FAI said the Board had decided to move the game to a neutral venue "due to operational challenges that could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil".

The away fixture against the Israelis takes place before this on the 27 September at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Sport said: "It is important to note that National Governing Bodies of sport, such as the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions.

"The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in the organisation of such fixtures."

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