At its heart, football reflects politics because it represents nations — their identity, pride and history. Flags, anthems and national colours aren’t merely tradition; they’re symbols of collective memory and often unresolved tensions. That’s why a football match between the United States and Iran in the 1998 World Cup wasn’t just about goals — it was a diplomatic event watched by millions, with white roses exchanged to defuse tension rooted in decades of hostility.
Football can also be a stage for political drama. In the Balkans, matches between Serbia and Albania have seen nationalist fervour spill onto the pitch and into the stands, including drones and abandoned games. Rivalries between Algeria and Morocco, rooted in long-running disputes over Western Sahara, have even affected continental club competitions.
But it’s not only about conflict. Football has diplomatic potential too. Matches have been used to thaw icy relations, such as Armenian and Turkish officials meeting during a World Cup qualifier, helping open dialogue between estranged capitals.
Even when teams refuse to play, it’s a political act. Sporting boycotts and forfeitures have been used historically to protest broader disputes — like African nations boycotting the 1966 World Cup qualifiers over an unfair system, which eventually helped diversify global representation.
So when football bleeds into politics, it’s because the sport is a microcosm of society — celebrating triumph, wrestling with identity, and sometimes airing grievances that have nothing to do with the offside rule. In other words, football isn’t a sanctuary from politics; it has always been one of its loudest stages.
Which is why the Ireland team should have the (football) balls to refuse to play with Israel, a tyrannical, criminal state
Football IS politics. How else can you explain the sheer joy I feel when England get beaten? In many ways football, being the world’s most popular sport, has probably prevented more wars starting. People can vent their anger, hatred, frustration with their mortal enemy on the pitch rather than the battlefield. Grrrr!!!
So Jude, what does that make Micheál Martin when he told the FAI they should play Israel in the upcoming finals. Yet, he remained silent when RTE announced it wouldn’t be attending this years Eurovision song contest due to Israel’s attendance – a confused, or undecided political leader?
Personally, I believe had Micheál been around and in high office forty years ago, he would have passed the picket out side of Dunne Stores to buy his oranges, and supported the IRFU decision to travel to and play South Africa – that would have been his political decision and he would have stuck to it!
Very good jude