Israel-Ireland match to go ahead in Nations League after player vote

What the report says

The Republic of Ireland will go ahead with its Nations League match against Israel on Sunday after a squad vote decided against a boycott, according to Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell. Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported that the decision came after one player told the coach they were uncomfortable taking part and wanted to withdraw from the squad. The team had already delayed its pre-match news conference and training session as discussions continued among players, coaches and officials.

Courell said a vote among the squad showed a strong majority in favor of playing, and the association then confirmed the fixture would proceed. The match is set to take place in Debrecen, Hungary, where Israel has been staging its home games. Ireland’s own home meeting with Israel, scheduled for October 4, has been moved to Serbia and will be played without spectators.

The buildup has been shaped by wider political tension around Israel’s participation in European football and the war in Gaza. The FAI previously backed a request for UEFA to suspend Israel from competitions, while Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson recently used the term “genocide” in a news conference, drawing a sharp response from the Israeli Football Association. The dispute matters because it shows how international sport is being affected by the conflict and by pressure on football governing bodies over whether matches should continue.