Ireland Israel Match Confirmed
Republic of Ireland confirms Nations League match against Israel will proceed following squad vote.
Anonymous
The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League match against Israel in Hungary will go ahead after the Football Association of Ireland consulted the squad and a significant majority voted to play. The decision followed calls to boycott the fixture over the war in Gaza and a period of uncertainty in which Ireland postponed its scheduled press conference and training session while players discussed their response. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had said he did not want to play, and the squad expressed differing views; the FAI said it respected all players’ positions. Before the squad meeting, stand-in captain Dara O’Shea had argued that deciding whether to withdraw was a matter for football authorities and the government, while saying players would discuss possible ways to register their protest.
Key Points
1
The disruption caught UEFA off guard: the press conference was reportedly postponed with only 19 minutes’ notice, and UEFA was said to have been unable to contact either the Irish team or the FAI while the squad remained at its hotel.
2
Before the squad’s discussions, protesters gathered outside the team hotel in Castleknock and chanted “Don’t play,” calling out the names of squad members.
3
A report said the squad’s initial meeting was about agreeing on a response; a complete boycott was not originally on the agenda before Gavin Bazunu said he would not play.
4
FAI chief executive David Courell said one player had told the head coach of his discomfort and intention to withdraw; the association then held a squad vote in the final 90 minutes before announcing the match would proceed.
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