Israel's national football team wears black armbands against Ireland

In memory of the victims of the terrorist attack three years ago, the Israeli national football team will wear black armbands and the inscription “7.10” in the Nations League game in the evening (8.45 p.m., DAZN) against Ireland. The Israeli association announced that the European Football Union Uefa had approved a corresponding application.

On October 7, 2023, fighters from Hamas and other extremist organizations killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 250 others as hostages to Gaza. The unprecedented terrorist attack sparked the Gaza War. Since then, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. There has actually been a ceasefire in the Gaza war since October 2025; But there are always fatal attacks.

Today's game in Backa Topola, Serbia, is also explosive because there is enormous support for Palestine in Ireland. During the first leg duel in Debrecen, Hungary, the Irish players expressed their protest in different ways.

Uproar in the first leg during the Israeli anthem

They wore black armbands and kept their heads bowed during the Israeli anthem. In addition, there were no high-fives before or after the game. Jack Moylan, scorer of the 3-0 final score, took off his armband after his goal and kissed it.

Substitute goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu even boycotted the game and will not be there in the second duel either. However, the team and the association rejected a complete boycott, as was partly called for in Ireland. The evening before the game there was a scandal at the official press conference.