A Derry GAA club has joined a growing campaign demanding a boycott of sports firm, Puma products because of the German’s company’s links with the Israeli national football team.
Steelstown Brian Ógs has called on all members not to buy Puma-branded gear this Christmas in support of an international Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaign.
In a social media post, the club said: “We at Steelstown support the BDS global campaign. We encourage our members and the wider community to choose to not buy Puma products this Christmas. By doing so, we are contributing to the support given to Palestinians. Encourage others to do the same.”
Steelstown’s announcement follows a similar move by the O’Neills’ sports company, the main supplier of gear to the GAA. Earlier this month, the company, which has its main manufacturing base in Strabane and a major retail outlet in Derry, removed all Puma gear from its nine stores. O’Neills also stopped selling Puma-brand gear through its online store.
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Derry IPSC spokeswoman, Catherine Hutton said the Steelstown move followed approaches from IPSC activists. Ms Hutton said she was delighted that the GAA club had moved so quickly to support the campaign and understood that other GAA clubs were about to join the boycott calls.
“Two of our activists made contact with GAA clubs in the city asking them to join the campaign. It’s amazing that Steelstown have responded so positively and quickly and on the Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People,” Ms Hutton said.
The IPSC spokeswoman said that the influence of the GAA could spread throughout Ireland and put pressure on Puma to review its links with the Israeli national football team.
