Campaign group Stop The Game has called on Ireland to boycott their second game against Israel.
The two nations are due to meet again in Serbia on October 4 as unrest continues among supporters.
They faced each other over the weekend, with Ireland winning 3-0 while missing substitute goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who boycotted the match.
The goalkeeper voiced his opinion that it was not right to play against Israel, saying his “decision is based purely on my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong”.
Last week, Ireland’s Football Association (FAI) confirmed they will play on October 4 against Israel again.
Stop The Game has called on the FAI to revise its decision, publishing an open letter explaining its position.
It read: “We are writing to appeal to each of you, individually and collectively, not to take part in Sunday’s fixture against Israel in Serbia.
“We want to begin by acknowledging Gavin Bazunu. His decision not to be available for these fixtures was an act of immense personal courage. It was a humanitarian stance, taken at professional risk, and it has received admiration around the world. He has honoured Irish football and he has honoured Ireland.
Stop The Game has called on Ireland to boycott the second game against Israel
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INSTAGRAM/STOP_THE_GAME_PETITION
“We know he is not alone. We know there are others among you who do not wish to play this fixture and who are doing so only because you have been pressured and misled by the FAI.
“We understand that. We do not hold it against you. But we are asking you to reconsider.
“We also understand that there are those among you who do not share our view. We believe that position is wrong. But we appeal to you to stand with your colleagues, and with the Irish people.
“Every credible national poll on this issue has found that over 70 per cent of the Irish public believe these matches should not take place. You are asked to represent Ireland. This is what Ireland thinks.”
Gavin Bazunu boycotted Ireland’s first match against Israel
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The letter continued: “We want to be clear about the protests that will take place around Thursday’s Austria fixture and Sunday’s game in Serbia.
“The right to protest has never been more necessary. It is only through protest that these games were rightly moved out of Ireland in the first place.
“It is only through protest that the cause of the Palestinian people – under constant genocidal attack – has received the global coverage it has received this past week.”
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has called for focus to be turned to football amid the planned protests.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has called for focus to be turned to football
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He said: “I am not going to allow outside noise to affect me focusing on football. I must give those thoughts to others that care of security.”
When asked if players had told him about another meeting relating to the reverse fixture against Israel, Hallgrimsson said: “Obviously the FAI has said that we are playing both the games and we are going to fulfil that.
“That was our intention when we came into this camp and that is still our intention.
“It’s been tough, especially on the players. It’s been really tough. Like all of this camp we almost take it day by day. (But) that is already decided that we are going to fulfil the games.”
