‘Come on you boys in our green army

This one’s for humanity

Stand up strong and toe the line

Side by side with Palestine

And boycott the Israeli football team’

Sung to the tune of Put ’Em under Pressure (We’re All Part Of Jackie’s Army), these lyrics rang out across the Grand Parade at the weekend.

Local singer and activist Martin Leahy reworked the song and iconic ‘Olé, Olé’ chorus to ‘Don’t play, don’t play, don’t play, encouraging Irish soccer players to boycott the forthcoming international matches between Ireland and Israel.

#StopTheGame is a campaign of Irish football supporters, players, coaches and administrators opposed to genocide, calling for Ireland to refuse to play Israel on September 27 and October 4.

In May, fans disrupted the Ireland v Qatar friendly in the Aviva Stadium, by throwing tennis balls wrapped in ‘Stop the Game’ stickers onto the pitch to send a strong message to the Football Association of Ireland that the fixtures between Ireland and Israel must be cancelled.

Last year, 93% of FAI members voted to call on UEFA to suspend Israel from international fixtures. Despite calls to show Israel the red card, the country has not been suspended, and so Ireland is faced with the unpalatable prospect of sharing the pitch with Israel in 12 days.

A survey by the Irish Football Supporters Partnership found 76% of fans........

© Evening Echo