Ireland and Israel omit customary handshakes before Nations League match

Republic of Ireland and Israel players did not exchange the customary pre-match handshakes before their UEFA Nations League fixture at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Hungary on Sunday. The teams also did not exchange pennants. Ireland captain Dara O’Shea and Israel captain Manor Solomon appeared not to shake hands after the national anthems were played.

Ireland’s players stood for their own anthem and appeared to bow their heads during Israel’s anthem. The fixture was played at a neutral venue and had attracted heightened attention because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. Irish players had faced calls to withdraw from the matches from the “Stop The Game” campaign, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine.

However, the squad voted to play after a lengthy meeting at its hotel in Debrecen on Saturday. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu subsequently withdrew from the squad, saying he believed it would be wrong for him to take part in Sunday’s match and the return fixture in Serbia on October 4. The Irish players wore black armbands during the game.

Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said the gesture recognised all lives lost in the Gaza conflict. Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said the controversy had made the week particularly challenging. He said the scrutiny had produced mixed emotions within the squad, while his priority was to protect the players and keep them focused on the match.