The Republic of Ireland’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel will proceed after players voted on Saturday to play the matches. The first game is scheduled for Sunday evening in Debrecen, Hungary, amid intense pressure from campaigners to boycott the fixtures.
The Football Association of Ireland admitted that players shared different views on the matter, leading to a divide within the squad. This tension resulted in the delay of the scheduled pre-match press conference and training session. Despite the decision to compete, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from the squad to boycott the game.
As a form of protest, the Irish team will wear black armbands during the match. In response to the decision to proceed, the Israeli FA issued a statement commending the FAI and the squad, declaring that "Football has won."