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Israel national team captain Manor Solomon has vowed “revenge” following a tense Nations League encounter against the Republic of Ireland, where Irish players refused to shake hands and ignored the Israeli national anthem. Ireland won the match 3-0 in Hungary, but the sporting result was overshadowed by political protests, including Irish players wearing black armbands and a boycott of the match by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Manor Solomon condemns Irish protest gestures
Following the match, Manor Solomon, the 27-year-old West Ham United winger, expressed indignation over the behavior of the Irish squad. Solomon reported that Irish players directed insults toward the Israeli team during the game and criticized the decision to ignore the Israeli anthem.
“Obviously that they hate us and we don’t like them,” Solomon said in a post-match interview, adding that he avoided further comments to prevent a potential multi-game suspension. He described Israel as a “strong” and “incredible” country and stated that the team takes pride in their national identity and their soldiers.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the qualification campaign, Solomon signaled a desire for redemption.
Internal conflict and boycott within the Irish squad
The lead-up to the match was marked by significant instability within the Irish camp. The squad held a four-hour meeting to debate whether the game should take place at all. This deliberation followed the decision by Bolton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to boycott the match on ethical grounds.
Bazunu stated his absence was based on the conviction that “the death of innocent people is wrong,” though he clarified his position was not an opposition to the Jewish community or the Israeli people, but rather a protest against “atrocities in the region.”
Other players also voiced discomfort. Midfielder Jason Knight expressed doubts about playing the match, and defender Dara O’Shea described the “difficult position” the group faced following discussions between the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the Irish government, and UEFA.
Political tension on the pitch in Hungary
The atmosphere of hostility began before kickoff. During the initial coin toss, Ireland captain Dara O’Shea refused to shake hands with Solomon. The Irish team took the field wearing black armbands; during the match, goalscorer Jack Moylan removed his armband to kiss it while celebrating his goal.
Ireland secured the 3-0 victory with goals from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, and Moylan. The match concluded without any exchange of greetings between the two teams, and Irish players left the pitch to the sound of boos from the crowd.
The tension follows comments from Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who previously stated that his team would be “playing against a genocide” in reference to the conflict in Gaza. According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, more than 70,000 people have died in the region since the start of the war.
FAI security measures and neutral venue decisions
Due to intense political pressure and security concerns, the FAI decided in the summer to move “home” matches against Israel to neutral territory, citing “operational challenges” that could impact the safety of games on Irish soil.
The friction dates back to the Nations League draw in February, which placed Israel, Ireland, Austria, and Kosovo in the same group. In July, the FAI held an internal vote on whether to boycott the fixtures; 75 delegates voted in favor of playing, while 32 voted for a boycott. Separately, a public petition garnered over 17,000 signatures demanding the cancellation of the matches.
The two nations are scheduled to meet again this Sunday in a match that will be played behind closed doors at a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia.
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