Irish soccer players wear black armbands, refuse to shake hands ahead of contentious match vs Israel

Israel and Ireland competed against each other in a highly contentious Nations League match on Sunday in Hungary.

Ireland faced pressure to boycott the match from fans at home over Israel’s response in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks committed by Hamas terrorists that left nearly 1,200 people dead.

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Ireland’s soccer federation said in June that its home game against Israel was going to be moved to a neutral field with no fans present. It followed the organization’s initial motion to UEFA to ban Israel from club and international play.

Regardless, the efforts to ban Israel were proven futile and the match was played on Sunday in Debrecen.

Irish players made a point to protest, however. The Irish team wore black armbands and looked down at the grass with their hands behind their backs during the playing of the Israeli national anthem.

Ireland’s captain, Dara O’Shea, approached midfield for the pre-match talk with his hands behind his back. He shook hands with the officials but made no effort to shake hands with Israeli players.

At least one Irish player decided to skip the match and leave the team altogether. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu said he refused to play against Israel because of his "personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong."

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"It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region," he added.

It’s unclear if Bazunu had any strong reaction to the terror attack that occurred in Israel nearly three years ago.

Ireland has been one of Israel’s most outspoken critics against the war in Gaza. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin condemned antisemitism in an interview with Fox News Digital but said Israel’s military response was "absolutely disproportionate."

Ultimately, Irish players voted to play the match after four hours of conversations and a vote, according to Football Association of Ireland (FAI) CEO David Courell.

Israel is set to play each of its Nations League matches in Debrecen. Israel’s Football Association said in a statement that politics and sports should be kept apart.

Ireland went on to win the match, 3-0.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.