The Ulster Unionist Party’s sports spokesperson, , has backed the Irish
Football Association’s refusal to cancel next week’s friendly
match with Israel.
said:
"Three months ago Sinn Fein’s sought to apply political pressure
on the IFA regarding next week’s planned friendly match with
Israel.
“In spite of the IFA’s clear statement at the time that the game
would go ahead, moves are still being made to force the IFA to
cancel the game and they too have been rebuffed by the
IFA.
“I suspect that many of those who are demanding the game should
be scrapped are not football fans and they certainly aren’t
Northern Ireland fans. Indeed, given some comments on social
media it is clear that a number of them would deny both Northern
Ireland and Israel’s right to exist.
“The bottom line is that the IFA and the Israeli FA are members
of both UEFA and FIFA. When it comes to friendly matches, the IFA
has both the independence and freedom to decide who Northern
Ireland should play.
“Israel have been welcome visitors to Windsor Park on a number of
occasions, most memorably in November 1981, when a 1-0 Northern
Ireland win saw Billy Bingham’s side qualify for the 1982 World
cup in Spain.
“Like all Northern Ireland fans I am looking forward to this
Saturday’s Nations League match with Bosnia and next Tuesday’s
friendly with Israel. Football should not be hijacked by others
with their own political agendas.”
