The Irish national team defeated Israel 3-0 in a Nations League match held in Hungary following internal team discussions and public pressure to boycott the fixture.
Key facts
- •The Irish team bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem.
- •The match was held in Debrecen, Hungary, after being moved from its original location.
- •Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024.
- •A second match between the two teams is scheduled to be played behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia.
- •The Irish players wore black armbands to memorialize those killed in the Gaza conflict.
Ireland secured a 3-0 victory over Israel in a Nations League match held in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday night. The game took place following intense public and political pressure in Ireland for the team to boycott the fixture due to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The Irish players wore black armbands during the match and declined to shake hands with their opponents.
By the numbers
Team Decision and Controversy
The Irish squad held a vote on Saturday to decide whether to participate in the match, which was technically a home game for Israel. Irish FA chief executive David Courell stated that a significant majority of the squad voted to play, though the decision was not unanimous. Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad for this match and a subsequent fixture against Israel.
Match Details and Atmosphere
Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, and Jack Moylan scored for Ireland in the 14th, 16th, and 25th minutes, respectively. The match was played in a largely empty stadium with only a few hundred spectators present. The Irish FA did not reserve tickets for their fans, and the Irish broadcaster RTE aired the game without its standard halftime analysis.
Timeline
- October 7, 2023A Hamas raid into Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths.
- SaturdayThe Irish squad voted to proceed with the match against Israel.
- Sunday nightIreland played Israel in a Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Deutsche Welle Sports.
