Lajee Celtic statement
8 July 2026
Lajee Celtic calls on the General Assembly of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to vote against fulfilling Ireland’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures v Israel.
This is a historic opportunity for Ireland to take a principled stand and lead the way in refusing complicity and normalisation of Israel’s crimes. History showed the power of sporting boycotts against apartheid South Africa – the same moral courage is needed today.
This issue is particularly close to Lajee Celtic as our young footballers receive significant support from Ireland and the Irish diaspora worldwide. Our youth are educated on and inspired by the bravery and sacrifice of Irish people throughout history.
On the other hand, our young player’s suffer due to Israel’s colonial occupation and expansion regime. For two years, our own Wajeeh Abu Aker has been held in a colonial prison – taken at only 15 years old. There are hundreds of Palestinian children being held in colonial prisons, denied the freedom to watch football and their basic human right to play.
Since October 2023, the genocidal colonial regime has forced the cessation of all regulated football across Palestine. They have murdered 567 footballers and 1,000+ athletes.
This is the reality of football in Palestine – while the perpetrators of these international crimes participates in international tournaments with total impunity.
The complicit and corrupt UEFA and FIFA will not apply justice unless they are forced to do so. It is therefore on member associations, clubs, players and most importantly supporters to take their own action to force movement.
We thank Stop The Game, the activists, clubs, players and supporters across Ireland who are working tirelessly for the boycott of these fixtures. We call on all of our supporters everywhere to amplify the call to Stop The Game and stop Ireland normalising the genocidal colonial state of Israel.