WHEN John Carlos raised his fist on the Olympic podium almost 60 years ago, he did so in fear.
Anticipating some form of protest from Carlos and Tommie Smith, the International Olympics Committee had sent Jesse Owens to talk them down.
He failed.
Amid countless threats, the pair went ahead and gave the Black Power salute that changed their lives.
Smith’s right arm was dead straight in the air.
Carlos’s left limb was ever-so-slightly bent at the elbow.
“I wanted to make sure, in case someone rushed us, I could throw down a hammer punch,” he said in a Guardian interview in 2012.
John Carlos knew before they did it that there would be consequences.
Did he truly envisage that among them would be marginalisation to the point of having to burn his own furniture for heat because nobody would employ him?
Jesse Owens himself had gone bankrupt in the aftermath of the 1936 Olympics, at which his performance in the first televised games undermined Hitler’s belief in the superiority of the white man.
By Christmas, he hadn’t much option but to agree to racing a horse for money.
“People say it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse. But what was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can’t eat four gold medals.”
When Barcelona’s open-top bus paraded the city to celebrate their La Liga success last month, 18-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal waved the Palestinian flag.
He would have known the consequences.
He would have been aware that he would be met by the false flag accusations of anti-Semitism and support for Hamas.
An 18-year-old with the world at his feet, a growing international brand in his own right – that was a very brave thing to do knowing that his actions were unlikely to have any significant direct impact on the ongoing Israeli slaughter of the people whose flag he held.
Barcelona player Lamine Yamal holds a Palestinian flag (AP) (AP)
Sporting activism by an individual doesn’t normally end well for them.
The applause quickly subsides and when it does, they’re seen as damaged goods, malcontents, troublemakers, not to be touched with a 10-foot pole.
Yamal’s actions aren’t likely to do him much good. And that is precisely why they’re so powerful and admirable.
Evil only triumphs when good people stay silent.
Richie Sadlier had an uncertain beginning to his punditry career.
He achieved more on the pitch than most of us can ever dream of, but the lack of headline successes meant anyone that wanted a boot to stick into him always had one handy.
In his post-Qatar comments around the Israeli game, he confirmed his status as the deepest-thinking, most intelligent and most socially-aware pundit in Irish sport.
The image he painted of an Israeli flag being raised up the Aviva Stadium flagpole a few months from now was powerful.
And here’s the bit: it is easy for Ireland to make this stand.
Circumstances and timing are in their favour.
The bits between the lines from their press conference last week suggested in size 40 font a level of deep discomfort among the players at not just being asked to play the game, but being asked by the media to explain a decision that they haven’t made and would like to be taken out of their hands.
If a team backed by its national association did make a stand, there is great safety in numbers.
No individual will be cast to the shadows.
It’s not like the world doesn’t already know the Irish position on this genocide.
Public support would be very much on the team’s side if they refused to play.
There is the concern that if the game in Dublin goes ahead, the atmosphere around the place could be vitriolic.
If that is likely to be a reality, the game will probably end up behind closed doors.
Protesters sent a volley of tennis balls onto the pitch (Brian Lawless/PA)
The FAI remain insistent that Ireland will play both games, citing the potentially “punitive” punishments that UEFA could dole out if they don’t.
Their fear feels almost completely financial, which is on some level understandable given the basket case their finances have been in recent years.
If you had a strong government standing behind them, it’s a simple fix: pull out of the game lads and we’ll foot the bill for you, and we’ll be seen to do it too.
The Dáil won’t be able to do anything about UEFA punishing Ireland on the field in the shape of points deductions.
Let’s talk brass tacks. There is some element of on-field risk involved in throwing away a Nations League campaign.
The potential damage down the line is that it contributes to Ireland failing to qualify for Euro2028 for which they are joint hosts.
But all Ireland need to avoid any problem is for either of Scotland or Wales to qualify alongside England. If that happens, the other two spots reserved for the hosts would kick in.
UEFA are many things but they are not stupid.
Of all the host countries to contribute handsomely to a football festival, the sound reputation of Irish fans puts this island pretty high up the list.It’s time for the FAI to stand up.
Stand up for their players.
Stand up for the public.
Put on their big boy pants and stand up to UEFA.
Israel are an unwanted visitor.
As Richie Sadlier put it, statements aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.
Actions are what matter.
Sometimes what is right has consequences.
Ask John Carlos.
But when he was asked if he regrets his actions on that 1968 podium, he replied: “I don’t have any misgivings about it being frozen in time. It’s a beacon for a lot of people around the world. So many people find inspiration in that portrait. That’s what I was born for.”
The longer the world stays silent, the more innocent people will be killed in Gaza.
We’re up over 75,000 now.
Someone has to push the snowball to the top of the hill.
Stop the game.