Ireland’s football team voted on Saturday to fulfil a Nations League tie with Israel despite goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu pulling out of the match due to unease over the war in Gaza. “We carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the fixtures,” Football Association of Ireland (FAI) head David Courell told reporters in Debrecen, Hungary, where the game will take place on Sunday.
“It was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue. “Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football, that this fixture would continue as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures,” he added. Ireland are scheduled to play two Nations League ties against Israel, with the first — officially Israel’s home fixture – at the neutral venue in Hungary.
Ireland’s designated home match on October 4 has been moved from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security. “I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly,” Bolton’s Bazunu said on Instagram. “I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel.
My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong,” the 24-year-old added. Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country’s own history of British rule. Dublin, alongside Spain and Norway, formally recognised a Palestinian state in 2024, and has repeatedly criticised Israel over the Gaza conflict. Israel strongly rejects allegations its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.
“Football has won, the separation between football and politics must be maintained,” said a statement by the Israeli FA later Saturday hailing the Irish decision. “The ones who have certainly lost today are those who