Ireland Players’ Actions at Israel Football Games Labeled ‘Shameful’ by Jewish Advocacy Leader

The actions of the Ireland national football team during two Nations League matches against Israel have drawn sharp criticism from Jewish advocacy leaders. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), called the players’ behavior “shameful” during an event in Dublin. He specifically highlighted the players bowing their heads for the Israeli national anthem, wearing black armbands, and avoiding eye contact with Israeli players as “dehumanising, demonising and disgusting.”

Greenblatt, who has led the ADL since 2015, spoke on behalf of the J7, a coalition of Jewish advocacy groups in countries with significant Jewish populations. He emphasized that sport should be a space for unity, where fans can come together without political or ideological divisions. “People are entitled to have their opinions,” he said, but he argued that such actions in sports undermine the spirit of the game.

The J7 delegation, including representatives from the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Anti-Semitism, visited Dublin to meet with Irish politicians and members of the Jewish community. Greenblatt noted that anti-Semitic incidents in Ireland have increased significantly, with 143 reported between July 2025 and January 2026. Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, described the number as “deeply troubling” for a community of just 2,200 people.

Although Ireland is not a J7 member country, Greenblatt stated that the group included a special chapter on Ireland in its annual report. He argued that anti-Israel rhetoric in the country has created a hostile environment for Jews, impacting their safety and daily lives. “Jewish people are an indivisible element of Ireland,” he said, “removing them is removing a piece of this country itself.”

Greenblatt also pointed out that 2025 was the deadliest year for anti-Semitic attacks in the diaspora in over 30 years. He urged the Irish government to take immediate action, including increased security funding for Jewish institutions and stricter enforcement of hate crime laws. He called for political accountability when rhetoric against Jews escalates, emphasizing the need for measures to protect the community before it is too late.

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