The Football Association of Ireland says the team will play the second match despite public opposition. Posted on September 30, 2026 September 30, 2026 Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson says his team will play its second Nations League football match against Israel on Sunday despite opposition from the Irish public and a player’s public boycott over Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. “The FAI [Football Association of Ireland] He has said that we will play both games,” Hallgrimsson said at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday. “That was our intention when we came to camp and it remains our intention,” the Icelandic coach added. “We are trying to focus on football. It is already decided that we will fulfill the games.” Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Hungary on Sunday after a turbulent build-up in which the team voted to fulfill the match after goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew a day before the match. Israeli fans were accused of directing racist chants towards Irish striker Adam Idah and were filmed raising military slogans during the match, but they evaded disciplinary action by competition organisers. Ireland, 25 international, born to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, was the subject of “monkey chants”, as shown in videos circulating on social media, but the fans’ behavior has gone unpunished by UEFA. An Israeli fan also led chants about his country’s army from the stands while trying to ignore the team’s beatings on the football field. According to Irish media reports, UEFA confirmed that racist abuse by Israeli fans occurred towards Idah, but that the matter cannot be investigated because the protocols were not followed by the Irish players and officials. Ireland will face Austria on Thursday in Dublin ahead of their scheduled home match against Israel, which will be played behind closed doors in Backa Topola, Serbia. During Sunday’s match in Debrecen, Ireland’s players wore black armbands in recognition of all the lives lost to the Israeli attacks in Gaza and bowed their heads as the Israeli national anthem was played in the almost empty stadium. pre-match handshakes and no pennants were exchanged. Ireland starting goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was the only player to publicly opt out of the match and posted a statement on social media, saying he felt “it would be a mistake to participate in the upcoming matches against Israel.” Hallgrimsson said on Wednesday that Irish players would again wear black armbands during the second match and bow their heads during the Israeli anthem.
