Drogheda United co-chairperson Joanna Byrne has confirmed she intends to resist efforts by the club’s board to have her step down following her public call for Ireland not to play Israel in the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Byrne was one of our keynote speakers at last November’s Sport for Business Annual Women in Sport Conference, in partnership with Lidl.  She was also named as one of our 50 Women of Influence in irish Sport for 2025, in partnership with AIG.

Read about here appearance on stage at our event.

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Byrne said she was informed on Monday morning that her role as Chairperson was “no longer tenable” and that she was expected to resign — a request she said she would not accept.

“This unwarranted action was taken after my public statement last week that Ireland should not play Israel in the Nations League while a genocide against the Palestinian people continues,” she said, insisting she had spoken in her capacity as Sinn Féin spokesperson on Sport and had not referenced the club in her remarks.

“It is profoundly hurtful that expressing a moral view — one shared by the majority of Irish football fans — has led to this approach despite me never referencing the club at any stage whilst doing so,” she added. “I stand over those comments. They were made from a deeply held belief in equality, human rights and the power of sport to take principled positions — as it has done many times in history.”

Byrne also pointed to Drogheda United delegates’ support at the FAI General Assembly in November for a motion calling on UEFA to ban Israel from European club and international competitions.

A lifelong supporter of the club, Byrne described Drogheda United as “woven into the fabric of my life and of our town” and said she remained committed to strengthening its governance and sustainability.

Appointed in April 2024, she became the first woman to hold the chair at a Premier Division League of Ireland club.

Later on Wednesday evening, Drogheda United issued a statement clarifying that no changes had been made to the club’s board structure “at this time”.

“The concerns expressed to Ms Byrne by her fellow directors are unrelated to anyone’s specific political or moral views, and at no point were any such concerns expressed,” the club said.

“What was expressed was a concern over the open criticism of UEFA and the FAI, regulatory bodies to whom the Club is subject, as well as each club official’s responsibility to respect the neutrality provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics and the UEFA Statutes.

“To be clear, the substance of Ms Byrne’s views has never been attacked by the Club or Trivela Group.”

Drogheda United is owned by the US-based Trivela Group.

The dispute has prompted significant reaction within the League of Ireland community, with supporters voicing backing for Byrne on social media. There has also been discussion of potential fan protests at Friday’s fixture at Oriel Park.

It remains unclear whether the parties can reach a resolution in the coming days.

 

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