Politicians urge FAI to follow Ed Sheeran artists' boycott
At 2.09pm on 16 September 2026, opposition politicians urged the Football Association of Ireland and the government to emulate the Irish artists who have quit Ed Sheeran’s US tour, demanding a boycott of the upcoming Ireland versus Israel Nations League match amid growing calls for solidarity with Palestine.
Artists and politicians demand action
Sinn Féin, Labour and People Before Profit have all urged the government and the FAI to follow the example of the artists who have quit Sheeran’s tour over their support for Palestine. Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly called it a “very important lesson for the FAI”, while People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett praised Aaron Rowe, Beoga and the other artists for a “brave” stand. Labour TD Alan Kelly added that Sheeran “threw his friend under the bus in favour of commerciality”, and the parties also called for a boycott of the League of Ireland (LOI) fixtures against Israel.
FAI and government stance
Taoiseach Micheál Martin argued that a boycott of the upcoming Ireland men’s football match with Israel may have “no impact at all” on FIFA or the Israeli government. FAI president Paul Cooke warned that such a boycott could relegate the team to League C of the Nations League, harming Ireland’s seeding for Euro 2028 qualification.
Possible fallout
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger praised the artists for “setting an international example” and urged Irish players to consider the same stance. She said next week is “decision time” for the players, and that ignoring the campaign could leave the country “behind you”. Thus the potential boycott hinges on whether the squad aligns with public sentiment.
The 42FM Sport platform lists Soccer, Rugby, Golf, Racing, Horse, Boxing, Motorsport, Athletics, NFL and NBA among its coverage, offering Live Video Review Podcasts and an Extra Family Stories section. An Upgrade feature and the Journal’s THE analysis have highlighted the debate, encouraging readers to See More Stories.
The controversy has also featured prominently in the platform’s Live blogs, where readers discuss the merits of a boycott. Public reaction continues to evolve as the Ireland‑Israel fixture approaches.