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Ireland Players Vote to Play Israel Despite Gaza Conflict
Confirmed
In Short: The Republic of Ireland football team voted to play their UEFA Nations League match against Israel on Sunday, despite initial player concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad in protest, while other players expressed their concerns about playing the game.
A vote among the squad produced a 'significant majority' in favor of playing, according to FAI chief executive David Courell.
Players will wear black armbands 'in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict' and will make further gestures during both matches against Israel.
The pre-match news conference with manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player was postponed, and training was delayed due to talks with players.
Courell confirmed that one player withdrew from the squad after expressing discomfort about taking part in the match.
The players will not participate in parts of the pre-match ceremony, including handshakes and the pennant exchange.
During the match, the Republic of Ireland players bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem and did not shake hands with the Israeli team.
The match was played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, with no tickets sold to Republic of Ireland supporters.
The Irish players faced significant pressure over the fixture, with more than 160 Irish sports figures calling for a boycott.
The FAI decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with their obligations as members of UEFA, despite the controversy.
Courell said the players intend to make charitable contributions from match fees connected to the Israel fixtures and their October 1 match against Austria.
What this adds
The decision to play the match came after months of pressure surrounding the UEFA Nations League fixture, with more than 160 Irish sports figures calling for a boycott.
The match was played in a neutral venue in Hungary, with no 'away' fans for either team.
The Irish Football Association president David O’Rourke confirmed that there was a large majority in favor of continuing to play the Nations League matches against Israel.
Background
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.
What's confirmed
- 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.
- 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.
- The Irish players wore black armbands, which Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive David Courell said on Saturday was a gesture "in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict".
What's still developing
- 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.
- "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.
- Hallgrimsson relayed that nobody "can understand the pressure that has been going on these players" and said the lengthy meeting on Saturday stemmed from "a change of mind for one of the players to play the game".
- Asked whether the far from ideal preparation for Sunday's game would affect the players, the Irish boss said "we will see".
- The fixtures have been embroiled in controversy since the two teams were drawn to play each other in Group B3.
- Republic of Ireland players faced calls to withdraw from the games because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war with a "Stop The Game" campaign - organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine - gathering pace.
- The Football Association of Ireland CEO David Courell said the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football “to proceed with this match, as we are always committed to fulfilling the scheduled games,” while the match remained under spotlight since the sides were drawn together in February.
- The BBC said the fixtures were embroiled in controversy after a “Stop The Game” campaign organised by Irish Sport for Palestine gathered pace, and it described how a pre-match news conference with Hallgrímsson and a player was postponed just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to start.
- The DW report said the Israel Football Association celebrated the outcome with the line “football has won,” while it added that the Ireland squad would wear black armbands in solidarity with “all the lives lost in Gaza” for the match. tap a side to read it in full It signals how each outlet interprets the dispute around his Gaza terminology.