Ireland will play its Nations League match against Israel today after the squad voted on whether to fulfill the fixture, Football Association of Ireland (FAI) CEO David Courell said on Saturday.
Ireland is one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s war in Gaza, and there have been numerous protests calling on the team not to fulfill the fixtures with Israel.
Ireland postponed their pre-match press conference ahead of the game in Hungary, and also delayed their training session.
This was to allow further talks between Irish players, coaching staff, and executives after one player announced their intention to withdraw from the squad.
“This morning, a player expressed their discomfort with fulfilling this fixture to the head coach and indicated their intent to withdraw from the squad,” Courell told reporters.
“Ultimately, within the last maybe 90 minutes, we carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the fixtures, and it was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue.
“So based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended to fulfill the fixtures.”
The Irish second-choice goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, said that he will not play against Israel on Sunday, the Irish Independent reported.
Ireland government supports coach over Gaza comments
Ireland was due to hold the press conference on Saturday, but shortly before the scheduled 10:15 a.m. local time start, reporters were informed that it would take place after the team’s training session at the stadium in Debrecen, at 11.
But over three hours later, the Ireland team was still at their hotel.
Ahead of Ireland’s opening Group B3 game away to Kosovo, which they lost 1-0, captain Dara O’Shea told reporters that the players would meet on Friday to discuss a plan of action for the game against Israel.
FAI members voted in November for its board to request that UEFA suspend Israel from European competitions, but an FAI EGM passed a motion in July to proceed with the fixtures.
All of Israel’s home games are scheduled to take place in Debrecen due to the security situation, and Ireland moved its home fixture, set for October 4, to Serbia. That game will be played behind closed doors.
The initial conflict between Israel and Ireland’s soccer national teams started last weekend, when Ireland’s manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said that his team was “not playing with genocide; we’re playing against genocide.”
The comments prompted an Israeli FA response, which said that Israel was “not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy, and stupidity; we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin defended Hallgrimsson when speaking to reporters on Tuesday, describing Israel’s remarks as “unacceptable” and adding that “Israel can’t keep denying what the world knows.”
Hallgrimsson said on Wednesday that he was grateful for the country’s prime minister’s support, adding that “maybe it’s not clever for me to take the attention like this,” and that it was currently “a tricky time for us.”
O’Shea was asked on Wednesday if the players have any action planned for the Israel matches. “We will come together on Friday and discuss it as a group,” he said.
“I don’t think we would be doing our job properly if we didn’t put our focus into the game (against Kosovo). It’s something that can’t be brushed over. The decision we come to as players will be taken as one,” he added.
Israel says football and politics must stay separate
The Israel Football Association said football and politics must remain separate, declaring, “What pleases us today is that football has won.”
The statement continued that “the separation between football and politics must be maintained; any other approach spells chaos and a dangerous slide on a slippery slope, leading to disastrous consequences for the game we all love.
“The Football Association of Ireland and the national team players did the right thing by recognizing this, even if it took a bit longer than it should. Yet, it’s better late than never.”
Courell said the players would not take part in any further media obligations and would not shake hands with the Israeli players before the game, in contrast to the Israeli statement.
The Israeli statement said that “flags will be raised, anthems will be played, and the players and coaches of both teams will have the opportunity to shake hands and respect each other.”