Ireland skip handshakes, bow heads before win over Israel — SkimNews
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- Republic of Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Sunday's UEFA Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary, with Troy Parrott (13'), Adam Idah (16'), and Jack Moylan (25') scoring.
- Ireland players wore black armbands, looked down at the grass with hands behind their backs during the Israeli anthem, and skipped prematch handshakes — captain Dara O'Shea refused to shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon.
- Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu boycotted both Ireland games against Israel, a personal decision announced Saturday, citing his belief that "the killing of innocent people is wrong."
- Jack Moylan celebrated his goal by kissing and raising his black armband before kissing his badge.
- The match was played in an almost-empty stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, with no Irish fans officially present and some ticket holders told Saturday night their tickets — issued through the Israeli federation — had been canceled.
- Israel forward Saied Abu Farchi was suspended after receiving a red card for his goal celebration in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Austria.
- The two teams meet again Oct. 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia, Ireland's designated "home" venue for the return leg.
Why it matters: Ireland's players transformed a routine Nations League fixture into a protest platform, refusing handshakes and bowing through the anthem over Israel's Gaza campaign while still delivering a 3-0 result on the pitch. The second leg in Serbia on Oct. 4 ensures both the political and sporting dimensions of this fixture continue into the next international window.
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