Ireland decided not to boycott the match against Israel in the Nations League

Ireland footballers have voted against boycotting the upcoming Nations League match against Israel. This was announced at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

FAI chief executive David Courrell said the team held a four-hour meeting that led to an "overwhelming majority" of the decision to enter the match.

Courrell noted that the discussion took place mainly between the players themselves, although at times the coaching staff also participated in it.

According to Cowrell, the players will go to the match with black armbands in memory of “all the lives taken away by the conflict”.

Ireland head coach Heimir Hudlgrimsson confirmed that one player left the team after expressing a desire not to participate in the match against Israel. Earlier on Saturday, the Irish Times and the Irish Independent reported that goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had refused to play in the match, with some other footballers also considering the possibility.

The match in the League B tournament is scheduled for September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary. On October 4, another game will be held in the Serbian city of Bachka Topol, Ireland and Israel.

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.

Many politicians and football officials in Ireland have called for a boycott of the games with Israel in the Nations League. 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.