Drogheda United co-chairperson Joanna Byrne has claimed the club's board of directors said her position was untenable following her statement around the Republic of Ireland v Israel fixture in the UEFA Nations League.
Byrne, a sitting Sinn Féin TD for Louth, has said she will not be stepping down from her voluntary position with the Boynesiders.
Last week’s Nations League draw, which paired Ireland and Israel in the same group, has drawn a clamour of politician reaction with Byrne one of the first to say the fixture should not proceed.
Deputy Byrne said last week: "In November, the FAI voted to submit a motion to UEFA to ban Israel from its European club and international competitions. That was the correct moral and principled position to take.
"Therefore, I am extremely angry and dismayed that the FAI have confirmed they will play against Israel.
"It appears that their morals, and principled position, was only on paper – not in actions where it counts.
"Israel should not be in this competition."
United are owned by US-based Trivela Group and currently have a five-person board of directors.
Benjamin Boycott, Marc Koretzky and Barton Lee from Trivela are among the group helping run the club, along with United CEO Rian Wogan and Deputy Byrne.
Trivela also own English League 2 outfit Walsall Danish side Silkeborg. In a statement released on Wednesday night Drogheda United maintained that "no changes have been made to the club's board" and 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".
Later on Wednesday, Drogheda United's sponsor's Sullivan and Lambe issued a statement of support for Byrne and said they "will be actively reviewing our position as sponsors of Drogheda United in the coming days".
"It is profoundly hurtful that expressing a moral view has led to this approach despite me never referencing the club at any stage whilst doing so." - Joanna Byrne
Byrne had earlier said: "On Monday morning, I was informed by the Board of Directors of Drogheda United Football Club that my role as chairperson of the club was no longer tenable with an expectation that I would resign, something I have told them that I intend to resist.
"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.
"It is profoundly hurtful that expressing a moral view has led to this approach despite me never referencing the club at any stage whilst doing so."
Byrne said her opinion is shared by the majority of Irish football and added she stands over the comments: "These fixtures should not go ahead and I believe pressure will grow in the days and weeks ahead against them.
"This position is in line with Drogheda United delegates' vote at the FAI General Assembly in November in supporting a motion for UEFA to ban Israel from its European Club and International Competitions.
"Drogheda United has been part of my identity since childhood - standing on the terraces, travelling to away games, sharing victories and heartbreaks with family and neighbours. The club is woven into the fabric of my life and of our town.
"Drogheda United is a community club. It belongs to the people of this town - to the children who pull on the claret and blue for the first time, to the volunteers who give countless hours, to the supporters who travel the length of the country week in, week out. I have always sought to honour that spirit.
"Nothing will diminish my commitment to Drogheda United or to the League of Ireland more broadly.
"This has been a deeply upsetting development for me personally, but my attachment to Drogheda United runs far deeper.
"I will continue to support the club as I always have - as the proudest chairperson in the Country, a supporter, a volunteer, and someone who believes wholeheartedly in its future and I look forward to seeing it continuing to thrive."
In response, Drogheda United issued a statement that reads: "Drogheda United Football Club has noted the statement issued regarding our co-chair, Joanna Byrne. At this time, no changes have been made to the club's board.
"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.
"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.
"Neither the club nor Trivela Group will be making any further comment at this time."
Sullivan and Lambe posted a statement on social media saying they "will be actively reviewing our position as sponsors of Drogheda United in the coming days."
The Ashbourne based stone suppliers, who have been the club's primary sponsor since the beginning of last season, released a statement on Instagram this evening saying they were "extremely concerned by the attempts to remove Joanna Byrne as chairperson as Drogheda United for remarks she made in relation to the Republic of Ireland men's team's upcoming game against Israel.
"As a business and lifelong supporters of Drogheda United, this development troubles us deeply.
"We do not believe that political opinions expressed by a sitting TD, especially one who is spokesperson for her political party on sport, should become the basis for interference in the governance of a community football club.
"We are therefore deeply disappointed at the approach the Trivela Group have taken and the precedent it sets.
"While this situation continues to unfold, Sullivan and Lambe will be actively reviewing our position as sponsors of Drogheda United in the coming days.
"We sincerely hope that calm heads prevail and that the club's integrity, independence and community focus are protected."
