Republic of Ireland news conference delayed before controversial Israel game

What the report says

The Republic of Ireland delayed a scheduled pre-match news conference on Saturday ahead of their Uefa Nations League meeting with Israel in Debrecen, Hungary. BBC Sport reported that manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and one player were due to speak before training, but the briefing was postponed shortly before it was set to begin. A Uefa official later told reporters that training had also been put back, and the venue for the media session was moved from the stadium to the team hotel, with no confirmed time announced at the point of reporting.

The fixture, scheduled for Sunday evening, has been the subject of protests and boycott calls linked to the war in Gaza. Campaigners under the “Stop The Game” banner, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine, have urged Ireland not to play. Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and ex-international James McClean are among those who have backed a boycott, although some supporters have argued the match should go ahead with fans present.

BBC Sport said Ireland players held a team meeting on Friday to discuss the games against Israel, including the return leg in Serbia on 4 October. The delay to the news conference has added further uncertainty, with reports suggesting at least one player may want to withdraw from the squad, though that was not confirmed. In broader context, the Israel-Gaza war has made sporting encounters involving Israel politically sensitive across Europe, and Uefa has faced repeated scrutiny over such fixtures.