Ireland, Israel players skip handshakes before Nations League game

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Republic of Ireland and Israel players did not exchange handshakes before their controversial UEFA Nations League match in Hungary on Sunday.

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As reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, after walking onto the pitch at the Nagyerdei Stadion, the Republic of Ireland players stood for their national anthem and appeared to bow their heads before Israel’s anthem.

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Following the anthems, the traditional pre-match handshake between the two teams did not take place. Ireland captain Dara O’Shea and Israel captain Manor Solomon also did not exchange handshakes or pennants.

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The fixture has been surrounded by controversy since the two sides were drawn together in Group B3 in February, amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

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Irish players had faced calls to withdraw from the matches, with the “Stop The Game” campaign, organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine, urging them not to participate.

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However, Ireland’s players voted to play Sunday’s fixture after a lengthy meeting at their team hotel in Debrecen on Saturday.

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Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu subsequently withdrew from the squad, saying he believed it would be wrong for him to participate in Sunday’s match and the return fixture in Serbia on October 4.

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The Irish players also wore black armbands during the match. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said the gesture was in recognition of all lives lost in the Gaza conflict.

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Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said the controversy had made the week particularly challenging for him and his players.

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He said the intense scrutiny had created mixed emotions within the squad, adding that his priority was to protect the players while ensuring they remained focused on the match.

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The game was played at a neutral venue in Hungary amid heightened attention surrounding the fixture.

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