Ireland could be the first European football team to play Palestine: MP

An Irish MP wants Ireland to become the first European country to host the Palestinian football team in a historic international match.

Mark Ward, a Sinn Fein Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin Mid-West, told The New Arab he has contacted the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) about the prospect of the Irish national team, or possibly an all-Ireland squad, play the Palestinians in a friendly. 

It would be the first time that Palestine, which was recognised by FIFA in 1998, competes against a European national team, despite Israel being a part of European football, with domestic teams competing in the Champions League.

The idea developed when Ward visited Palestine in November, meeting Palestinian officials, including members of the FA.

"During that meeting it came up in conversation that the Palestinian football team had never played any international soccer team in Europe," he told The New Arab.

"I think... [this] is quite telling. So I [asked], would the Palestinian FA welcome a match against Ireland and they were very open to the idea."

Since Palestine 🇵🇸 became a member of FIFA in 1998 they have not played a European Country.

Would you support an International football match between Ireland 🇮🇪 & Palestine 🇵🇸 ?@FAIreland @IrePalestine @V_Palestine20 @Palestine_UN pic.twitter.com/3uZzJTOZal

— Mark Ward T.D. (@Wardy1916) June 29, 2023

While no date for the match has been confirmed, Ward hopes the friendly will take place and has been in contact with the FAI.

Members of the Palestinian FA will visit Ireland in August and there are calls for FAI officials to sit down with the delegation and finalise the friendly.

The FAI did not respond to The New Arab about the prospective match but Ward believes it would likely be a sell-out owing to the historic relationship between Ireland and Palestine.

A straw poll on Mark Ward's Twitter page saw 92 percent of respondents welcome an Ireland v Palestine game.

He believes Ireland could be set the ball rolling for more European teams playing the Palestinians, just as in 1951 when they became the first country to host West Germany post-World War II. Some have put down Germany's choice of a green away kit as homage to that visit.

"There was a bit of international outcry at the time, but Ireland were world leaders then and they could be again," Ward said

"We've done it before, we can do it again, but there are also the long historic and cultural links between Palestine and Ireland... we have both been victims of an occupying force, we have both been victims of borders and land grabs in our own country, and the Irish people have always had this really, really strong connection [with Palestine] because of that."

Ward, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, this week slammed a decision by Ireland's all-time top goal scorer Robbie Keane to manage an Israeli football club, describing the move as part of Israel's "sports washing".

He has also took part in an exchange between Irish and Palestinian boxers, including a tour of the Palestinian Territory, and sees sport as a key way to bridge divides and healing trauma.

Ireland became the first European country to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1980 and there have been growing calls for the country to officially recognise Palestine following a vote in parliament.