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Republic of Ireland players intend to wear black armbands in recognition of lives lost in the Gaza conflict during Sunday’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel in Hungary, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said on Saturday.
FAI Chief Executive David Courell also confirmed that one player had withdrawn from the squad before the match. He said the players had voted on whether to play the fixture, with a “significant majority” supporting the decision to proceed.
The match has been controversial since Ireland and Israel were drawn together in Group B3. Players had faced calls from the Stop The Game campaign, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine, to withdraw from the fixtures.
FAI says fixture will go ahead
Sunday’s match will be played at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, despite differing views within the Irish squad, the FAI said in a statement.
“The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel will be fulfilled,” the association said. It added that the decision followed consultations with the players, who expressed different views, while a majority said the fixtures should be played.
The FAI said it respected the views of all players and acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding the matches.
A pre-match news conference with Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player was postponed for 15 minutes on Saturday morning amid speculation over whether the fixture would take place. Irish media reported that several players, including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, had asked to withdraw.
Calls to cancel matches
Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason Knight was the first national team player to publicly say that Ireland should not play the upcoming match against Israel.
“I don’t think the game should be going ahead, but it is going ahead,” the 25-year-old Bristol City midfielder said.
More than 160 Irish athletes have signed an open letter urging the national team not to play. The Stop The Game campaign has also organised demonstrations calling for Israel to be suspended from international football.
Hallgrimsson previously said some players felt “really uncomfortable” about the fixtures and described the team as playing “against genocide”. Those comments drew a strong response from the Israeli Football Association.
The return fixture, officially Ireland’s home game, has been moved from Dublin to Backa Topola in Serbia. It will be played behind closed doors on October 4.
