Irish-Israeli soccer player Finn Azaz, who is part of the Irish national team and is due to play Israel on Sunday, is reportedly debating retiring from international soccer following the tensions amid his team's preparation to play Israel, Irish sports site The 42 reported on Sunday.
According to reports by The Irish Independent, Azaz made an "impassioned speech" during an Irish team meeting to decide what to do about the upcoming fixture, and whether the squad would forfeit the match, play it with a statement, or without one.
Azaz has not made any public statements regarding his international career or the situation with the fixture against Israel, with The 42 report mentioning that the suggestion of retirement could have been raised by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
The player has always been vocal about his Israeli ancestry, even commenting on it after his debut for Ireland's under-21 team, saying that he qualifies to play for Israel because his mother is Israeli, but that his dream was to play for Ireland, where his father is from.
In June 2025, Azaz also gave an interview with Sunday Times Ireland, where he spoke about his family's relationship with Israel, revealing that his grandmother served in the IDF.
"My grandmother was a very special and unique woman. She was in the Israeli army as a general, and then she came to England and built an extremely successful business by herself," he said.
Ireland to play Israel, players not to shake hands
The Irish national team decided to play both upcoming fixtures against Israel on Sunday and October 4, with no clear sign they would take any action on the pitch during the matches.
A report by The 42 suggested that some of the team's more experienced players pushed for a message to be shown while playing, and also suggested using black armbands during the game, which is forbidden under UEFA rules unless there is a clear reason to wear them.
On Saturday, FAI CEO David Courell said that Ireland will play its Nations League match against Israel today after the squad voted on whether to fulfill the fixture.
The IFA 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.
Second-choice goalkeeper withdraws from fixture
Gavin Bazunu, Ireland's second-choice goalkeeper, announced on Saturday that he would not play the fixture because of his "personal beliefs."
"My decision is based purely upon my belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong," wrote the goalkeeper in a statement published on Instagram.
He also argued that his stance was "not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region."
"There are few times where you get a chance in life to stand up for something bigger, and I strongly believe that this is one of them," he claimed at the ned of his statement.
Bazunu plays for Southampton FC, where he is also the second-choice goalkeeper, after being overtaken by Israel's Daniel Peretz, who also represents the national team.