Ireland's national football squad delivered a powerful collective statement of solidarity with Palestinians before and during their UEFA Nations League match against Israel in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday, refusing to shake hands with Israeli players, bowing their heads as Israel's national anthem played, and wearing black armbands in mourning for the thousands of Palestinians killed in Israel's genocide in Gaza.
As the two teams walked onto the pitch at the Nagyerdei Stadium, the Ireland players stood for their own anthem and then visibly bowed their heads as Israel's anthem played, a silent, coordinated act of protest that drew immediate global attention. When the anthems concluded, the teams did not line up for the traditional pre-match handshakes. There was no exchange of pennants between Ireland captain Dara O'Shea and Israel captain Manor Solomon. O'Shea stood at the coin toss with his hands behind his back. The teams went straight to kickoff.
The Ireland players wore black armbands throughout the match, in mourning for the thousands of Palestinians killed in Israel's genocide in Gaza. The Football Association of Ireland described the armbands as a gesture of recognition for lives lost. Ireland's captain had pledged to donate all earnings from the match to aid Gaza.
The most consequential individual act came before the match even began. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, one of Ireland's most prominent players, withdrew from the squad entirely, saying it would be wrong for him to participate. UEFA rules required the FAI to name a third goalkeeper for the matchday squad, and QPR defender Jimmy Dunne was named in Bazunu's place for administrative purposes, with Max O'Leary starting in goal. Bazunu also withdrew from the return fixture, scheduled for Serbia on October 4.
The match itself was played in a near-empty stadium, a far cry from the atmosphere of a normal Nations League fixture. Israel had been informed in advance by the FAI that Ireland's players would not shake hands, and UEFA accepted the arrangement. The fixture had been embroiled in controversy since the two countries were drawn together in Group B3 in February, with the Irish Sport for Palestine "Stop the Game" campaign gaining widespread support and calls for Ireland to withdraw entirely. The FAI ultimately decided the financial and regulatory penalties, including potential disqualification from the competition and fines, made withdrawal impossible, but Ireland's players ensured that playing the match did not mean accepting it.
Ireland raced to an early 3-0 lead.
