Ireland defeats Israel in controversial UEFA Nations League match
Irish players wore black armbands, bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem and refused pre-match handshakes before a 3-0 win in Hungary.
The Republic of Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 on Sunday in a UEFA Nations League match in Hungary that drew international attention after months of boycott calls and a series of pre-match protests by Irish players.
Ireland's players wore black armbands, bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem, and declined to shake hands with the Israeli team before kickoff. The match was the first of two scheduled fixtures between the sides.
Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said on Saturday that the armbands were worn "in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict." He confirmed the match would take place after hours of talks and a vote among the squad.
Israel was informed in advance that Ireland's players would not shake hands, and UEFA accepted the arrangement, according to the FAI.
Ireland captain Dara O'Shea pledged to donate all of his earnings from the match to aid Gaza.
The only player to publicly opt out of the fixture was first-choice goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. In a social media statement on Saturday, Bazunu said he felt "it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel." He withdrew from both legs, including the match set for October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia.
Pressure on the FAI to boycott had been building since May, when leading Irish footballers joined a campaign run by Irish Sport for Palestine. More than 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter urging the FAI to reconsider its decision to proceed with the games.
The campaign argues that Israel has breached UEFA and FIFA statutes by allowing teams to play on occupied Palestinian land and should be stripped of its membership at both football bodies. Fans protested an upcoming match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel during an international friendly against Qatar on May 28, 2026, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The second Nations League leg is scheduled for October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia.
Reporting by Al Jazeera. Read the original report: Ireland defeats Israel in controversial UEFA Nations League match.
Continue reading with a subscription
Get unlimited access to all articles and exclusive content.
Get more articles like this in your inbox
Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story.
