Drogheda United co-chair Joanna Byrne has been called to resign by the club's board following her statements regarding the boycott of autumn Nations League matches against Israel. Byrne, who is also a Sinn Féin deputy, has vowed to resist these demands. Meanwhile, the football community in Ireland is deeply divided over the legitimacy of playing matches against the national team of a country conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Pressure for Byrne's Resignation

The board of Drogheda United is demanding the resignation of Joanna Byrne after her call for a boycott of matches against Israel, deeming her stance harmful to the club.

Support from the Football Community

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley and commentator Eamon Dunphy have supported the boycott, placing ethics above sporting results.

Government and FAI Stance

Despite public pressure, the Football Association of Ireland and Prime Minister Micheál Martin plan to play the matches according to the UEFA schedule.

The escalating dispute over the planned September and October 2026 Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel has spilled over into club management. Joanna Byrne, co-chair of Drogheda United, revealed that the club's board deemed her continued presence in leadership inappropriate. The reason is her political calls for a match boycott, which clashes with the official stance of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Byrne, who has volunteered at the club for many years, emphasizes that her views stem from her role as a Sinn Féin deputy, not from her position in sports structures. The club's owners, the American investment group Trivela Group, are seeking to separate politics from sports, which prompted an immediate reaction from fans and other industry representatives. Stephen Bradley, manager of Shamrock Rovers, spoke out on the matter, publicly supporting Byrne. Bradley stated that certain ethical issues are more important than football, and genocide is one of them. He called on the FAI authorities to ignore potential sanctions from UEFA and refuse to take the field. A similar stance was taken by legendary Irish international Eamon Dunphy, who criticized the European federation for allowing Israel to participate in international competitions amid the ongoing conflict. In 1992, due to the war in Yugoslavia, that country's national team was excluded from the European Championship shortly before it began, representing one of the most famous examples of sports sanctions imposed by UEFA.2 — the number of matches Ireland is scheduled to play against Israel this autumn The situation is complicated by the fact that the FAI general assembly already passed a motion last November to suspend Israel from football structures. Nevertheless, after the official group draw, the federation and Prime Minister Micheál Martin confirmed their intention to play the matches, fearing severe financial and disciplinary penalties. The conflict at Drogheda United has become a symbol of a broader rift in Irish society, where strong traditions of solidarity with Palestine clash with sporting and political pragmatism. The case of Byrne, who has announced she will not resign, will likely be resolved before the club's or federation's statutory bodies. „Some things are bigger than football. Genocide is definitely one of them.” — Stephen Bradley

Mentioned People

  • Joanna Byrne — Co-chair of Drogheda United and Sinn Féin deputy, called to resign from club functions.
  • Stephen Bradley — Manager of Shamrock Rovers, who publicly supported the boycott of matches with Israel.
  • Eamon Dunphy — Former Irish international and popular sports commentator, criticizing UEFA's actions.