Ireland to play Israel after squad vote

The Football Association of Ireland confirmed Saturday that the Republic of Ireland will play Israel in their scheduled UEFA Nations League match after the squad voted by a significant majority to proceed. FAI chief executive David Courell said the association made the decision to fulfil the fixture following the vote. The match is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, in Debrecen, Hungary. The decision came after players held a meeting at the team hotel, delaying a planned news conference and training session. Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and the FAI’s director of football joined Courell at the news conference where the outcome was announced. Hallgrimsson said one player had withdrawn from the squad. A report identified the player as goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who was said to have told team officials he did not want to play. The sources do not establish Bazunu’s own public explanation. The vote’s result, as described by Courell, does not indicate how each individual player voted or felt about the decision. The fixture has prompted calls for Ireland to withdraw, including from campaigners and more than 160 Irish sportspeople who signed an open letter urging the FAI to reconsider.