Irish national football team decides against boycotting Nations League games against Israel

After long discussions between the team, the Irish national football team has decided against a boycott of the Nations League duels with Israel. A majority of the players were in favor of playing the games, the Irish Football Association announced a day before the first meeting between the two nations in Debrecen, Hungary. The debate is about Israel's role in the Gaza conflict.

A player had “expressed to the head coach his discomfort with the staging of this game and expressed his intention to withdraw from the squad,” Irish Football Association chief David Courell said. According to media reports, it is goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

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National coach: “Pressure grows day by day”

“There is enormous support for Palestine in Ireland – probably the largest in Europe,” said Ireland Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. Since the draw there have been protests against playing the game. “I have felt this pressure growing day by day and now it is almost reaching a breaking point,” said Hallgrimsson.

According to association boss Courell, the Irish players want to wear black armbands at the game “to commemorate all those who lost their lives in this conflict”. Additionally, “there will be parts of the pre-game ceremony that they will not attend.”