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Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said the team’s participation in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel should not be interpreted as acceptance or support for events in Gaza.
Speaking at a press conference at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Hallgrimsson said Ireland’s players wanted to make clear that taking part in the fixture did not amount to endorsing what was happening in Gaza, according to Irish media reports.
“By playing, we are not accepting what is happening. If a player enters the field tomorrow, he is not accepting, supporting or agreeing to anything that has happened in Gaza. That is a statement,” Hallgrimsson said.
Ireland says fixture will go ahead
The coach said the players had faced pressure over their participation and were following the rules of the competition.
“We are not playing with, we are playing against,” he said, adding that the players felt they were being placed under pressure by people in Ireland whom they wanted to represent.
“We just want to make clear we are not supporting anything that’s happening in Gaza,” Hallgrimsson said.
He added that Ireland was taking part because the competition rules required the match to be played.
“We are playing this fixture because it’s the rules of the competition we are in. That’s the reason we are here. We want to honour that,” he said.
Players reportedly expressed differing views
The Football Association of Ireland confirmed that the Nations League match in Debrecen would proceed despite differing opinions among the players.
“The association made this decision following consultation with the Republic of Ireland players, who shared different views, and a majority expressed that the fixtures should be played,” it said. “The association respects the views of all players involved and appreciates the level of sensitivity concerning these fixtures.”
Irish media reports said several players, including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, had asked to withdraw from the match against Israel.
The fixture has also become the focus of the “Stop The Game” campaign, organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine. The campaign has called on Ireland’s players to withdraw as Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues.
