Sinn Féin representative Pat Murphy has called on pubs across Derry City and Strabane to boycott the upcoming football match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel.

During September’s council meeting, councillor Murphy also successfully proposed writing to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to express council’s 'disgust', that the Irish national team is being forced to participate in the Nations League match against the 'rogue state of Israel' this Sunday.

Speaking to his motion, councillor Murphy said the idea that sport and politics shouldn’t mix was 'bogus', and is being used by certain parties to 'deflect from the horrible genocide being inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Israeli murder machine.'

He said it 'beggars belief' that Israeli sporting teams have not been served with a blanket ban, like Russia in 2022, and argued that it was not too late for the FAI to withdraw from Sunday’s game and a planned second leg in October.

“The FAI have cited fears of a backlash from the powers that be if they do not play both fixtures," he said.

“It is time for the FAI to grow spine, withdraw from the games, and face any potential consequences with their heads held high.

“It is what all right-thinking football fans throughout the world want.

“If these games do go ahead can I also make an appeal to all local bar owners in our city and district, that they refuse to show the game in solidarity with the citizens of Palestine and in protest at the FAI's cowardly decision.”

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin highlighted the work of ‘Stop the Game’ campaigners, who have been handing out leaflets at the Brandywell Stadium and beyond in an effort to have the match cancelled.

He added: “People are looking to Ireland to take a stand on this because if the Irish team doesn't play, we'll then see a domino effect of many other nation states refusing to play Israel, and that will be a good thing for humanity.”

Councillor Harkin noted that broadcaster RTÉ will be providing minimal coverage of the match with no commentary, pundits or advertisements, and called on a boycott from players.

“The players have been left in a very difficult position but these are games where there's not going to be a single Irish fan, played behind closed doors, with hardly any coverage happening," he noted. “I think that this is disgraceful and would encourage players to take a stand.”

He added: “The Irish trade union movement has given its assurance that they will defend any worker who takes a stand and refuses to be complicit in genocide, and I hope some of the players do whatever they can to stop these matches from going ahead.”

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly supported the idea of a pub boycott and said a similar idea was already being 'floated' in Strabane.

“[There is] a call for local pubs not to show this game and boycotts are a very legitimate, peaceful form of protest," he concluded.

“People are entitled to boycott and if they want to use that as a peaceful protest, they're entitled.

“It's been used around the world [and] it emanated in Ireland.”

A majority voted in favour of the motion, with the UUP and DUP opposed.

Andrew Balfour, Local Democracy Reporter