Dublin (AFP) - Ireland's Icelandic coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, confirmed on Wednesday that his team will play its second match against Israel in the European Nations League on Sunday, after doubts surrounded the first match against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.
Published on: 09/30/2026 - 13:22 Last updated: 09/30/2026 - 13:32
Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Hungary on Sunday, after turbulent preparations during which the team members voted in favor of playing the match, after goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno withdrew one day before the match.
The Icelandic coach said during a press conference in Dublin, “The Irish Football Association said that we would play both matches. This was our intention when we entered the camp, and it remains so.”
He added, "We are trying to focus on football. The decision has already been made that we will play both matches."
Ireland will face Austria on Thursday in Dublin, before its scheduled “home” match against Israel, which will be held behind closed doors in Bačka Topola in Serbia.
During Sunday's match in Debrecen, Ireland's players wore black armbands in honor of all those who lost their lives in the Gaza war, and bowed their heads while the Israeli anthem was played in the almost empty stadium.
The traditional handshake did not take place between the players before the match, nor did they exchange commemorative flags.
Hallgrimsson said on Wednesday that the Irish players will again wear black armbands during the second match, and will bow their heads during the playing of the Israeli anthem.
Only one player, goalkeeper Bazunu, withdrew before the first match, saying that “it would be wrong to participate” in either this match or the return match in Serbia because of “the killing of innocent people.”
Since Ireland were drawn in the same group with Israel in the Nations League in February, athletes, fan associations and pro-Palestinian activists have called for a boycott of the two matches.
Last year, the Irish Football Association itself asked the European Football Association (UEFA) to suspend Israel’s participation, but it did not succeed in gathering sufficient support from European football officials.
The Federation moved the October 4 match from Dublin to Serbia, citing “operational challenges.”
Israel strongly rejects accusations that its behavior in Gaza amounts to genocide.
The war launched by Israel on Gaza in response to the October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of about 74,000 Palestinians, according to data from the Ministry of Health in the Strip, which is run by the Hamas movement, and these are figures that the United Nations considers reliable.
© 2026 AFP
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