Jack Chambers urged Irish sporting bodies to boycott Russia and Belarus

Jack Chambers urged every major Irish sporting body to use their "influence and authority" to enforce bans on Russia and Belarus after the invasion of Ukraine.

Yesterday government voted down two proposals calling for the Ireland-Israel football match to be stopped – with successful government countermotions insisting football matches are solely a matter for the FAI. 

Chambers while minister of state for sport wrote to every Irish sporting national governing body and told them it was “imperative” to back a ban of Russia and Belarus and to encourage "practical measures of support to Ukraine" from their clubs and networks.  

‘He enclosed a joint statement he had signed alongside 37 other sports ministers’

On March 11, 2022 Jack Chambers as junior sport minister wrote to the Irish sporting national governing bodies. The letter was released under freedom of information legislation.

He enclosed a joint statement he had signed alongside 37 other sports ministers from across the EU, North America and Australasia. 

It called for Russia and Belarus to be banned from hosting, bidding for or competing in international sporting events and for limits on sponsorship and financial support from entities linked to either state.  

In the letter Chambers stressed the importance of implementing the statement's calls for action.

The letters followed a virtual summit on 3 March, 202, hosted by British secretary of state for sport Nadine Dorries. 

Chambers's department prepared detailed speaking points for this summit. 

The notes say sporting bodies should reflect a "unified position": countries that "wilfully ignore international law and attack another sovereign country" should face consequences and Russian athletes "should not return to competition while the current situation in Ukraine prevails”. 

They also say the importance of soft sanctions should not be underestimated. 

“Sport can leverage its ‘soft power’ as the outcomes are understood by all – you will no longer host major sports tournaments, you will not compete on the world stage, your team will not be allowed entry to the premier European and world Competitions,” the notes read. 

“Such measures can be effective and impactful as people see the difference in their everyday lives.” 

The speaking points also show Chambers intended to raise the issue of Russian money in Irish sport. 

His speaking points say it is "vital" to examine "where Russian money is being invested in our sporting structures nationally, be that through the ownership of sports teams or otherwise”. 

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have refused to support a ban on Israel participating in sports. 

The two parties defeated opposition motions calling for the Ireland-Israel football fixture to be called off by 81 votes to 68. 

A Department of Sport spokesperson said, “The exclusion of Russia and Belarus for international sporting events is built upon international consensus driven by international sporting bodies.

“While the FAI has pressed for the exclusion of Israel from UEFA, there is a lack of consensus among UEFA members and indeed international sporting bodies more generally in relation to the exclusion of Israel from international sporting competitions.”