Ireland players refuse Israel handshakes, bow heads during anthem before 3-0 win

Republic of Ireland players declined to shake hands with their Israeli counterparts and bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem before their UEFA Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary.

The Irish players also wore black armbands during Sunday’s fixture, which Ireland won 3-0 through first-half goals from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan. The Irish Times
During the pre-match ceremony, Ireland’s players remained standing but lowered their heads while the Israeli anthem was played.
Captain Dara O’Shea shook hands with the match officials during the coin toss but did not shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon. There was also no traditional handshake between the two sets of players before kickoff.

The black armbands were described as marking the lives lost in the conflict involving Israel and Gaza. The Times of Israel
The fixture had faced intense controversy in Ireland before kickoff, with players facing calls to boycott the match over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The Football Association of Ireland had previously sought Israel’s suspension from international competition, while UEFA declined to grant such a request. AP News
Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had also expressed discomfort about playing Israel, while stressing that his team was fulfilling its competition obligations. The Israeli Football Association strongly criticised some of his comments. The Times
Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad before the match, saying his decision reflected his personal belief that the killing of innocent people was wrong. Anadolu Agency

Despite the tension surrounding the fixture, Ireland went ahead with the game and secured a 3-0 victory.
The teams are due to meet again in their return Nations League fixture in Serbia, where further attention is expected around both the football and the political controversy surrounding the matchup.