It's not often the League of Ireland receives coverage in the Irish Independent outside of its excellent sports pages. But today former Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter had some strong criticism for Bohemians and Jeremy Corbyn in the Indo's political pages, after the club posted a photo of the former Labour (UK) leader in its new away jersey last month.
Bohs launched its 2023 Palestine Away Jersey in February. The jersey includes the colours of Palestine and had a dove under the colour. In the launch of the jersey, Bohs partnered with Palestine Sports For Life and ten per cent of its sales of the jersey will go to aid sports projects in the Tulkarem refugee camp. At Tulkarem, around 21,000 people live on an area of .18 square metres. It is one of the most densely-populated refugee camps on the West Bank.
Per the press release on the Bohs website:
The project empowers young girls and boys to realise their right to play, through football, and helps them to develop their life skills. It also provides educational opportunities and promotes education in keeping with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
On the weekend before last, Bohs tweeted a photo of Corbyn in the Bohemians Palestine jersey.
It's not the Islington North MP's first association with the Phibsborough club. Back in November, he conducted a club lotto during a visit to Dublin 7.
Alan Shatter weighs in
However, the sight of Corbyn in the Palestine shirt has raised the ire of Shatter, the former Justice minister and founder of the Ireland/Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Shatter praised Bohemians for 'encouraging Palestinian children to play football' but criticised Bohs for, amongst other things, 'importing Jeremy Corbyn into their narrative'.
"Importing Jeremy Corbyn into their narrative, however, raises serious questions about Bohemians’ motivation and judgement," Shatter told the Indo's Fionnán Sheahan. The full article can be read here.
Corbyn has spent much of his political life campaigning for the human rights of Palestinians. During his time as Labour leader, his party was dogged by antisemitism allegations.
In an interesting turn of events, Daniel Lambert, COO of Bohemians, today confirmed an uptick in sales of the club's new away kit in Ireland.
The jersey is for sale on the club's website.
