The Ulster Unionist Party’s sports spokesperson, Andy Allen MLA, has backed the Irish Football Association’s refusal to cancel next week’s friendly match with Israel.
Andy Allen MLA 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.”