Republic of Ireland and Israel players did not participate in pre-match or post-match handshakes during their Uefa Nations League clash on Sunday. The teams, meeting at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Hungary, also bypassed the customary exchange of pennants between captains Dara O’Shea and Manor Solomon. The two teams did not line up for the traditional handshakes, following the anthems.
During the pre-game ceremony, the Irish squad bowed their heads while Israel’s national anthem played. This fixture in Group B3 has faced significant scrutiny since the teams were drawn together in February. Pressure has mounted from the “Stop The Game” campaign, led by the Irish Sport for Palestine group, which urged the Irish squad to withdraw due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
Despite these calls, the Irish players ultimately decided to play the match after a lengthy meeting at their team hotel in Debrecen on Saturday. Ahead of the game, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad, stating it “would be wrong to participate” in the Sunday match or the return fixture scheduled for October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia.
To acknowledge the conflict, the Irish team wore black armbands. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell previously described the gesture as a move “in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict.” During the match, which resulted in a 3-0 victory for Ireland, player Jack Moylan kissed his armband and his team’s badge after scoring the third goal.
The atmosphere surrounding the event was tense, with a small group of Israel supporters jeering the Irish team as they arrived on the pitch for warm-ups. Although the Football Association of Ireland had confirmed that no tickets were made available to Irish supporters, a limited number of fans were observed inside the stadium venue.
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