Republic of Ireland players will wear black armbands during their UEFA Nations League match against Israel on Sunday as a mark of respect for all those who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive David Courell confirmed that the match in Debrecen, Hungary, will proceed after a large majority of Ireland’s players agreed to take part despite discussions and debate surrounding the conflict. The Irish squad is also planning additional symbolic gestures for the match and next week’s return fixture.
The fixture has attracted controversy since Ireland and Israel were drawn together in UEFA Nations League Group B3, with some voices calling for Ireland to boycott the matches because of the continuing war in Gaza. Irish players and FAI officials reportedly held several hours of discussions before deciding to proceed.
Courell confirmed that one player withdrew from the squad because he was uncomfortable participating. Media reports identified the player as goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who later explained on social media that his decision reflected his personal belief that the killing of innocent civilians is wrong. He also clarified that his position was not directed against Israeli people or the Jewish community.
The FAI said different views were expressed during the discussions and that it respected each player’s right to take an individual position. The match will be staged in Hungary rather than Israel because Israel is currently unable to host the fixture at home due to the security situation.
