The Republic of Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in a controversial UEFA Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary, on September 27, 2026. Irish players wore black armbands, bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem, and refused pre-match handshakes amid months of intense boycott pressure surrounding the war in Gaza.
Sunday’s fixture in Hungary unfolded under extraordinary tension following a months-long campaign led by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine. More than 160 Irish athletes had signed an open letter urging the Football Association of Ireland to boycott the matches over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Despite the mounting pressure, the FAI confirmed that the match would proceed following hours of talks and a squad vote.
FAI president Paul Cooke told RTÉ Sport that the national team could have faced undetermined sanctions beyond standard penalties had they refused to fulfill the fixture. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson called the buildup probably the worst kind of preparation for any coach, though he praised his players for handling a deeply difficult situation.
Gavin Bazunu’s Boycott and the FAI Squad Vote
The internal strain within the Irish camp culminated when first-choice goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu became the sole player to publicly withdraw from the fixture. In a statement released on social media, the Bolton goalkeeper explained that his decision stemmed from personal conviction.
“However, I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith, and try my best to be a person of character and principle, therefore I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel. My decision is based purely on my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.”
Gavin Bazunu, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper
Following Bazunu’s withdrawal, the remainder of the squad held a vote on whether to fulfill the fixture. FAI president David Courell reported that the measure passed by a significant majority.
According to reports from the Irish Independent cited by Balls, Azaz delivered an impassioned speech during team meetings discussing whether to forfeit, play with a statement, or play without one.
Protest Actions on the Pitch in Debrecen
As the match kicked off behind closed doors with only a small group of Israeli supporters present in the stadium, the Irish players executed a coordinated series of silent protests. The squad wore black armbands and kept their heads bowed while facing the grass during the Israeli national anthem.
When the teams lined up for pre-match formalities, Republic of Ireland captain Dara O’Shea approached the refereeing crew to shake hands but made no attempt to shake the hand of Israel captain Manor Solomon. There was also no exchange of team pennants between the two captains. The FAI had informed Israeli officials in advance of the planned handshake refusal, an arrangement accepted by UEFA.
On the field, Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 13th minute in front of a sparse gathering of about 10 neutral observers. Adam Idah doubled the lead just three minutes later, and Jack Moylan secured the third goal in the 25th minute. After scoring, Moylan celebrated by kissing his black armband and then kissing the Irish crest on his jersey.
On-Field Action and Upcoming Fixture in Serbia
Israel pressed back after halftime, requiring Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher to make critical saves to preserve the clean sheet. Tempers flared near the hour mark when Idah and Israel’s Raz Shlomo clashed, resulting in yellow cards for both players from German referee Harm Osmers.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on October 4 for the return fixture, which serves as Ireland’s home match, to be played in Bačka Topola, Serbia.
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