Ireland postpones training and keeps the match against Israel after players' vote

On Saturday morning, dusk saw the Irish training ground deserted, the scheduled time being postponed after a matter deemed serious forced the players to cancel the planned press conference. The incident immediately put the Nations League match against Israel in the spotlight.

A protest that sparked the debate

Some players of the national team, led by Heimir Hallgrimsson, expressed the desire not to play, on Sunday, the match against Israel, citing the war waged by the IDF in Gaza as a reason for protest. This stance fueled a prolonged discussion within the squad.

Vote and collective decision

David Courell, chief executive of the Irish Football Federation, said that “a long discussion took place and it was ultimately agreed to go to Hungary.” He added that the group had voted and a large majority was in favour of continuing the competition, despite the discomfort of a player who had considered withdrawing.

Confirmed schedule

The match will therefore take place on Sunday evening at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, followed by a second fixture on October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia. The training session, originally scheduled for this Saturday, was delayed, but the Association kept the international programme.

The chief executive recalled that the intention from the start of the international break was to play these matches, and that the consensus emerged from a two‑hour meeting held on Friday. The Irish players, after reflection, chose to play, highlighting the complexity of combining sport and political conscience.