Ireland plays Israel after squad vote, with players foregoing handshake

Ireland played Israel in a UEFA Nations League match in Hungary on Sunday after the Irish squad voted to fulfil the fixture, with players declining the customary pre-match handshake and bowing their heads during Israel’s national anthem. Ireland also wore black armbands in recognition of people killed in the Gaza conflict, according to match reports. The match was played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. The teams did not exchange pennants, and Ireland captain Dara O’Shea and Israel captain Manor Solomon did not shake hands during the referee’s coin toss. The gestures followed weeks of debate about whether Ireland should play the fixture amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said a significant majority of players voted to proceed. He said the squad discussed the decision after goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew, but did not disclose the vote’s precise result. The decision followed pressure from people calling for Ireland to boycott the match and the return fixture. Bazunu said he believed participating was wrong because of the killing of civilians.