Ireland players refuse handshakes with Israel before Nations League match

Republic of Ireland players refused to shake hands with their Israeli counterparts before Sunday’s UEFA Nations League match in Hungary, in a pre-match gesture amid controversy surrounding the fixture and the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

The Irish players also declined to exchange pennants with the Israel team and bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem before kick-off.

Ireland went on to win the match 3-0, with the players also wearing black armbands during the game. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said the armbands were intended to recognise lives lost in the Gaza conflict.

After scoring Ireland’s third goal, Jack Moylan removed his armband and kissed it before kissing the team badge.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said the players’ actions had helped draw international attention to the conflict.

“I hope that will not be in the next game because they have shown support for the protest, they have raised awareness worldwide, not only in Ireland, on the subject,” Hallgrimsson told RTÉ.

The players had held a lengthy meeting at their hotel in Debrecen on Saturday before voting by a significant majority to play the fixture.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu subsequently withdrew from the squad, saying he believed it would be wrong for him to participate in the match and the return fixture scheduled for October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia.

Hallgrimsson said Bazunu’s decision was not questioned by his teammates, although he acknowledged that the timing of the withdrawal created difficulties for the team.

The fixtures between Ireland and Israel have faced calls for a boycott since the Nations League draw in February. The Football Association of Ireland had previously backed a motion calling on UEFA to suspend Israel from its competitions.

More than 160 Irish athletes also signed an open letter urging the national team not to play the fixtures.

The FAI ultimately decided to proceed with the matches, with delegates citing concerns that a boycott could cause significant and lasting harm to the association.

The two fixtures are being played at neutral venues, with Ireland’s home match moved from Dublin to Bačka Topola.

The controversy has also followed comments by Hallgrimsson, who previously said the team was “not playing with genocide, but playing against genocide”. He later acknowledged that his use of the word “genocide” was wrong.

Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that it has committed genocide in Gaza, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity, saying its military campaign is conducted in self-defence and in accordance with international law.