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Ireland Confirms Israel Game Will Go Ahead After Player Vote
Confirmed
In Short: The Republic of Ireland football team has voted to play their UEFA Nations League match against Israel on Sunday, despite initial player concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Courell said, "This morning, a player expressed their discomfort at the fixture and indicated their intent to withdraw." He added that the player's change of mind led to the lengthy meeting on Saturday.
The players will wear black armbands during the match in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict.
Courell also confirmed that one player, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, has withdrawn from the game in protest, with several other players expressing concerns.
The FAI had initially decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with their obligations as members of UEFA.
The players will not be doing any media appearances for the remainder of the international window, and the press conference was delayed due to the ongoing discussions.
The FAI has also announced that profits from the upcoming match against Austria will be donated to charity, and the players will donate their match fees.
In a rare move, RTE, the Irish state broadcaster, said it will show the game but without Irish commentary or pundits.
The decision to play the match comes after a 'Stop The Game' campaign organized by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine gathered pace.
The Republic of Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country's own history of British rule.
Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel over the Gaza conflict.
Israel strongly rejects allegations that its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.
Background
The Republic of Ireland has confirmed Sunday's UEFA Nations League match against Israel will go ahead despite initial player concerns.
What's confirmed
- FAI chief executive David Courell confirmed one player has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad in protest Republic of Ireland players intend to wear black armbands "in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict" for Sunday's Nations League game against Israel in Hungary, after confirming they will go ahead with the fixture.
What's still developing
- But he added that a vote among the squad produced a "significant majority" in favour of playing.
- As well as the intention to wear black armbands for Sunday's 'away' game against Israel in Debrecen, Courell said the players will make further gestures for the initial game and the return 'home' fixture against Israel next Sunday in Serbia.
- A pre-match news conference with manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player, scheduled for 09:15 BST, was postponed just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to start, with reporters informed it would instead take place after the team's training session which was also delayed.
- About 13:00, players began to filter out of the meeting room, with it then confirmed the news conference would indeed go ahead, back at Nagyerdei Stadion at 14:30, with training to follow.
- More than five hours after the initial news conference was scheduled to begin, Courell - flanked by Hallgrimsson and FAI director of football John Martin - confirmed a players' vote passed by a "significant majority" to play the game.
- "I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle, therefore I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel," he said.
- Neutral venues and no 'away' fans - how Israel v Republic of Ireland became so contentious Republic of Ireland squad will meet to discuss Israel games 'It's a situation you can't win' - Heimir Hallgrimsson Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr and ex-international James McClean are among those to have backed calls for a boycott of the fixtures.
- In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, during which more than 73,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
- "All of the rest of the players are training today," he confirmed.
- Asked whether the far from ideal preparation for Sunday's game would affect the players, the Irish boss said "we will see".
- The FAI says the majority of the Ireland squad has voted to go ahead with Sunday's match against Israel.
- Players from Ireland's football team voted on Saturday to fulfil a UEFA Nations League tie with Israel despite player unease over the war in Gaza.