Maurice Cohen

Some of the most recognisable players come from Israel's Arab and Muslim community.

So when people speak about the Israeli team and not playing them,

as though it were a political institution.

They're often ignoring the reality of who these players really are.

I don't quite see how the playing of a football match in any way agrees or disagrees with that.

This should be about playing sport, not about politics.

I think that you're still conflating political situation with a sporting event.

There is no reason that one should take it out on the players of the Israeli football team.

We're not playing the government and the Israelis are not the government and they can't be responsible any more than Irish athletes can be responsible for actions of the Irish government.

That will be for their own personal conscience.

Again, I think from one athlete to another, they should be very happy to play them.

I accept that some of them aren't, but they would not like to be put in the same position and have to be controlled by the Irish government if situations were reversed.

It does Ireland a disservice, first of all.

We have to look at consistency here.

The question is not whether people have criticism of Israel.

Many do.

The question is whether Israel is being treated according to the same standards as everybody else.

Ireland has played many countries where governments have faced criticism over wars or international disputes.

We played guitar only recently.

A country, along with Iran, that has one of the worst human rights histories in the world.