Ireland's protest and handshake snub raise tension before Israel

On Sunday evening at the Nagyerdei Stadion, Republic of Ireland players bowed their heads as the Israeli national anthem played, while both sides deliberately avoided handshakes, setting a tense tone for the UEFA Nations League encounter with Israel later that night.

Pre‑match tension and player vote

The atmosphere was charged as both teams entered the pitch without exchanging pennants. Captains Dara O'Shea and Manor Solomon stood side by side at the coin toss but did not shake hands before or after the referee’s decision. The decision reflected growing unease over the match’s political backdrop.

FA of Ireland chief David Courell said the squad gathered in Pristina the day before and held an extensive conversation about travelling to Hungary. An intra‑squad vote was taken and a significant majority chose to fulfil the fixture. Courell added that the consensus was reached after two hours of discussion.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad, citing personal beliefs. In an Instagram post the Bolton Wanderers keeper wrote, "My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong," and stressed his stance was not against the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region.

Ireland’s split sees defender Jimmy Dunne named goalkeeper for Israel

UEFA regulations require each squad to register at least three goalkeepers. To meet this rule Ireland called up defender Jimmy Dunne as a backup to Caoimhin Kelleher and Max O'Leary, although his chances of playing in goal are slim.

In a symbolic gesture, the Irish side wore black armbands to honour the lives lost in the Gaza conflict. The move underscored the humanitarian concerns that have surrounded the match.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men also bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem, mirroring the Irish players’ action. The shared bow highlighted the solemn mood despite the political tension.

Senior sports reporter Aaron Morris noted that the article, dated 27 Sep 2026, includes View 2 Images of the pre‑match scene. He quoted Courell saying, "We were fully respectful of everyone’s right to their respective opinion on these topics," and that the final vote confirmed the squad’s intention to continue.