Published : 28 Sep 2026, 01:05 PM
Updated : 28 Sep 2026, 01:24 PM
The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League meeting with Israel had nearly unravelled before a ball was kicked.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad in protest, the players spent four hours debating whether to play, and a “significant majority” eventually voted to go ahead, according to Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell.
When they did, they made their unease visible.
Ireland’s players wore black armbands, there was no pre-match handshake or exchange of pennants, and Irish staff turned away from the pitch during the Irish anthem while the players bowed their heads during Israel’s. The armbands were worn “in recognition of all the lives lost in the conflict”, Courell said, according to The Guardian.
Then came the football.
Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 14th minute, Adam Idah doubled Ireland’s lead two minutes later and Jack Moylan made it 3-0 in the 25th, completing an 11-minute burst that effectively settled the match.
Israel were the designated home side, but the Nations League fixture was staged at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Hungary's Debrecen rather than in Israel.
The atmosphere was subdued, with The Guardian describing the stands as “nigh-on empty” and reporting a small group of Israeli supporters inside the ground.
The buildup had been dominated by the question of whether Ireland would take part.
Bazunu said in a statement that his decision was based on his belief that “the killing of innocent people is wrong”.
He stressed that his stance was not directed at “the Israeli people or the Jewish community”, but against what he described as “the atrocities in the region”.
His withdrawal triggered the lengthy internal discussion.
Courell said the squad held four hours of conversations, mainly among the players but also involving coaching staff and executives, before voting to fulfil the fixture.
Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson later called it “one of the most challenging weeks” of his coaching career.
He had also faced scrutiny over earlier comments in which he said Ireland were “playing against genocide”.
Hallgrimsson later said that was “a wrong word” for him to use, explaining that he had meant that playing the fixture did not amount to accepting or supporting what was happening in Gaza.
The Israel team welcomed Ireland’s decision to play, saying football and politics should remain separate. Head coach Ran Ben-Shimon had also said beforehand that he intended to shake Hallgrimsson’s hand.
Once the match began, Ireland were dominant.
Parrott finished from close range after strong work by James Abankwah, Idah raced on to Moylan’s through ball for the second, and Moylan then drove forward to score the third himself.
Moylan removed his black armband during his celebration, held it aloft and kissed it.
Israel improved after half-time and forced Caoimhin Kelleher into saves during their best spell, but Ireland remained in control and came close to adding a fourth.
