No handshakes between Republic of Ireland and Israel

What the report says

The Republic of Ireland and Israel did not exchange handshakes before their Uefa Nations League match on Sunday in Hungary, underlining the tensions surrounding a fixture that had already drawn significant controversy. According to BBC Sport, the teams also skipped the usual pennant exchange between captains Dara O’Shea and Manor Solomon. Ireland players appeared to bow their heads during Israel’s national anthem before the match at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen.

The game had been under scrutiny since the draw was made in February, with the matchup becoming linked to protests and calls for Ireland to withdraw because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. BBC Sport reported that an activist-led “Stop The Game” campaign gathered momentum, but the Ireland squad decided after a long meeting on Saturday to go ahead with the fixture. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu separately said he had withdrawn from the squad because he felt it would be wrong to take part.

Ireland wore black armbands, which the Football Association of Ireland said were meant to recognise lives lost in the conflict. BBC Sport also noted that some supporters jeered the Ireland players during the warm-up, while only a small number of fans attended the match. The team’s coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, said the week had been unusually difficult for the squad, amid intense debate about the fixture and its wider context.