The Republic of Ireland’s players turned a routine football fixture into a loud political statement on Sunday, refusing to shake hands with their Israeli opponents before the UEFA Nations League tie in Hungary. The Ireland vs Israel Nations League match ended 3-0 in favour of the Irish, but it was the pre-match gestures that grabbed the headlines.
As Israel’s national anthem played, the Irish players bowed their heads. They also skipped the customary exchange of pennants before kick-off, a move that came against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war and the storm surrounding the fixture.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said the players’ conduct had put the conflict in the global spotlight. Speaking to RTÉ, he expressed hope that such a scene would not repeat in the next game, noting that the team had shown support for the protest and raised awareness well beyond Ireland.
The build-up was far from smooth. Players met for a long session at their Debrecen hotel on Saturday and voted by a significant majority to go ahead with the match. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, however, pulled out of the squad, insisting it would be wrong for him to feature in this game or the return leg on 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia. Hallgrimsson said no teammate questioned that decision, though the timing made it hard for the team to react.
On the pitch, the Irish wore black armbands, which Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive, David Courell, said was meant to honour lives lost in Gaza. After netting Ireland’s third goal, Jack Moylan removed his armband, kissed it, and then kissed the team badge.
The Backstory: Why the Ireland vs. Israel Nations League Match Sparked Such Controversy
Calls for a boycott began right after the Nations League draw in February. The FAI had earlier backed a motion urging UEFA to suspend Israel from its competitions, while more than 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter asking the national team not to play the games.
Eventually, the FAI decided to proceed, with delegates fearing a boycott could inflict lasting damage on the association. Both fixtures are being held at neutral venues, and Ireland’s home game was moved from Dublin to Backa Topola.
Tension rose further when Hallgrimsson described the team as “not playing with genocide, but playing against genocide”, a phrase he later admitted was wrong. Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, insisting its military campaign is self-defence within international law.
The war followed Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people with 251 taken hostage, according to the BBC. Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry says over 73,000 people have since died in Israel’s offensive.
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