James McClean has said that the Republic of Ireland team face being on ‘the wrong side of history’ if the game against Israel goes ahead.
The Boys in Green are set to play a highly controversial game against Israel in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, before they play a return game one week later. Both games will be played behind closed doors; the first game will see Israel ‘host’ Ireland in Hungary.
The game has been subject to intense protests due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with Israel being accused by the International Criminal Court of committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Despite the protests to stop the game, the FAI will still play both games, albeit behind closed doors and in neutral venues.
Having been capped over 100 times for his country, Derry City winger James McClean questioned the morals of the Irish national team and the FAI, saying that he has been ‘angered’ by the football association’s decision to play against Israel.
McClean, whose outspoken views saw him court both controversy and support throughout his career, told his former teammates: ‘You play the game and history will always remember you as spineless, as the ones who played the game.
‘If you don’t play the game, you’ve the backing of a full nation and probably beyond the nation,’ he told the Derry Journal. ‘You are either going to stand on the right side or the wrong side of history. Until that first whistle goes you still have that opportunity to do the right thing.’
McClean, who previously received death threats for refusing to wear a poppy when he played in the English Football League, said that his decision to do so wasn’t self-promoting, adding: ‘This isn’t a “look at me” and getting a pat on the back. I’ve had to endure a lot of horrible things off the back of that. At times it hasn’t been easy but when I go to bed at night, I can hold my head high. I did what was right.
‘Trust me, it wasn’t for my own best interests but it was the right thing to do.’
As for the rest of the team, McClean said: ‘You have an opportunity here to stand on the right side of history and unfortunately, these lads are going to go ahead with the game. They’re forever going to be tarred for not doing the right thing.’
‘I think every single one of them will be to blame. I think it’s easy to say “FIFA or UEFA is making us do it.” I’ve seen some of the interviews saying we’re uncomfortable with it and “it’s not been easy for us. Well then, don’t play the game.’
The game is still going ahead at the time of writing; the first game, which will see Israel as the home side, will be played in Debrecen, Hungary, where Israel has been playing its games since the October 7 attacks.
Israel will have a small home fan allocation, but the FAI haven’t released away ticket fans. The return fixture, where Ireland will be the ‘home’ side, will be played in Bačka Topola, Serbia. This match will be behind closed doors.
