Ireland goalkeeper refuses to play against Israel in Nations League
Gavin Bazunu told the coaching staff that he does not want to play against Israel on September 27 and October 4, and other players are considering the possibility
Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has refused to play against Israel in the upcoming Nations League matches. The Irish Times and the Irish Independent reported.
Matches in the League B tournament are scheduled for September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary and October 4 in the Serbian city of Bachka Topol.
The 24-year-old Bolton goalkeeper told the coaching staff he did not want to play against Israel. Some other players are also reportedly considering withdrawing from these meetings, following the goalkeeper's lead.
For this reason, the team on Saturday postponed the start of training in Debrecen and postponed the press conference 15 minutes before the start.
Bazunu has made 22 appearances with the Irish national team, but he is not the main goalkeeper of the national team.
The Irish government has taken a tough stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza. In December 2024, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin, accusing Ireland of "extremely anti-Israel policies" and "anti-Semitic rhetoric." In January 2025, Ireland formally joined South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide.
The draw for the League of Nations took place in February 2026, when it became known about the matches with Israel. Many politicians and football officials in Ireland have called for a boycott of the games. In light of the appeals, the Football Association of Ireland voted among delegates (75 for the game, 32 for the boycott) and decided to play to avoid UEFA sanctions.
This decision caused discontent in the country. In May, during a friendly match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, fans staged a protest. After that, UEFA decided to play both matches of Ireland and Israel in neutral territory. Due to safety concerns, Irish fans were banned from entering the stadium.
