Israel-Ireland: Decision Reached on the Boycott and the Handshake

Tensions are running high ahead of the two Nations League matches between Israel and Ireland, which will be played Sunday evening in Hungary and on Sunday, October 4, in Serbia. In recent days, rumors had begun to circulate about a sensational boycott following the decision by some players not to participate in the event in protest of what has happened and continues to happen in Gaza and the Middle East.

Green goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and four other players from the Dublin squad announced that they would not take the field, putting the match at serious risk. The Federation’s leadership decided to put the matter to a vote, and in the end, head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s position prevailed: the match will go ahead, although some extraordinary measures will be implemented. “We held a vote among the players to gauge their position. The majority voted to play. Based on that, the federation decided, on behalf of Irish soccer, to go ahead with the match, as we had intended from the start,” said President David Courell.

The Irish players will take the field wearing black armbands as a sign of mourning for the victims of the bombings in Gaza; they will also skip the traditional pre-game handshake with their opponents. Proceeds from the match will be donated to charity.

The Israeli Football Association reacted sharply on X: “We have contributed to the world and to humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for the stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy demonstrated by the coach of the Republic of Ireland’s national team.”