Ireland Undecided on Israel Rematch Amid Gaza Backlash — SkimNews
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- Heimir Hallgrimsson said Ireland "haven't decided" how to approach Sunday's return Nations League fixture against Israel, acknowledging "different opinions" and discomfort within the squad.
- Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday after the squad voted to fulfil the fixture despite unease over Israel's "genocidal war in Gaza."
- Players wore black armbands, bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem, and skipped pre-match handshakes and pennant exchanges at the near-empty stadium.
- Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was the only player to pull out entirely, saying it "would be wrong to participate" in either match due to the "killing of innocent people."
- The FAI moved Ireland's October 4 designated home match against Israel from Dublin to Backa Topola, Serbia behind closed doors, citing "operational challenges."
- The FAI requested UEFA suspend Israel last year but failed to secure sufficient support from European football chiefs.
- An independent UN commission of inquiry has found Israeli military actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a finding Israel rejects.
Why it matters: Ireland's squad vote and Bazunu's individual withdrawal show the Gaza war is now driving player-by-player decisions inside national teams, not just institutional boycotts — and with UEFA declining to act, players are absorbing the political fallout. Relocating the return fixture to a neutral Serbian venue behind closed doors is a direct consequence of that pressure reaching match logistics.
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