The Republic of Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in the first of two UEFA Nations League fixtures, with the match in Hungary marked by a series of protests over Israel’s war in Gaza.
Ireland’s players wore black armbands in support of Palestinians killed during the conflict, bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem and declined to shake hands with the Israeli team before kick-off.
Captain Dara O’Shea has also pledged to donate all his earnings from the match to aid Gaza.
Ireland defeats Israel after boycott pressure
The fixture went ahead after months of pressure on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott it. FAI chief executive David Courell said on Saturday that the armbands were being worn “in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict”.
Courell said the decision to play followed hours of discussions and a vote among the Ireland squad. Israel had been informed in advance that the Irish players would not exchange handshakes, while UEFA accepted the arrangement.
Gavin Bazunu, Ireland’s first-choice goalkeeper, was the only player to publicly withdraw from the fixture. In a statement posted on social media, he said: “I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel”.
Bazunu withdrew from both matches, including the second fixture scheduled for October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia.
Since May, leading Irish footballers have backed a campaign by Irish Sport for Palestine calling for a boycott. More than 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter urging the FAI to reverse its decision to take part.
The campaign alleges that Israel has breached UEFA and FIFA statutes by allowing teams to play on occupied Palestinian land, and has called for Israel to be removed from both football organisations.
