After fracas, ‘significant majority’ of Irish players vote to face Israel in soccer match
Team was thrown into turmoil after at least one player said he would not take part in the game in Hungary, amid growing calls to boycott the match
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Ireland’s national team said Saturday it would play its planned soccer match against Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, after “a significant majority” of its players voted to move forward with the game, despite growing pressure to boycott the match.
David Courell, head of the Football Association of Ireland, said that “This morning… a player expressed their discomfort with fulfilling this fixture to the head coach and indicated their intent to withdraw from the squad.”
The game in Debrecen is to be Israel’s “home” game against Ireland as part of the Nations League.
The player’s position led to some four hours of deliberations within the team and with management, at the end of which a vote was hold.
“An extensive conversation took place, where ultimately the consensus from the group was to travel to Hungary,” Courell said.
The Irish Independent had reported earlier that back-up goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had indicated that he was not prepared to take part in a soccer match, leading to turmoil in the team.
The deliberations led to delays in the Ireland team’s planned press conference.
The team has come under increasing pressure in Ireland, where affinity with Palestinians is strong, to boycott the two games — the first on Sunday and the second, Ireland’s “home” game, in Backa Topola, Serbia on October 4.
Ireland midfielder Jason Knight said after Thursday’s 1-0 loss in Kosovo that the players were in a difficult situation and that he didn’t think the matches should be going ahead.
Developments with Ireland: My understanding is that Gavin Bazunu has indicated that he doesn't want to play in the game – a view expressed in meeting last night. And there are other players now deliberating over coming with him. Training delayed.
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) September 26, 2026
“I don’t think the game should be going ahead but it is going ahead,” Knight told reporters.
“We’ll have a deeper talk about it and what that means. I’m quite experienced. None of us have gone through this scenario before but I’d like to think I’m experienced, thick-skinned and I can get through most things and that is what I will try and do.
“I’ll try and focus on the football as much as I can,” added Knight, who plays for Championship club Bristol City.
“It’s a bigger spotlight obviously and not focused on the football itself. It’s very, very unusual and none of us have come into this scenario before so we’re learning on the fly as well.”
The Irish Sport for Palestine Group said on Monday that more than 160 Irish sportspeople had signed an open letter asking the Irish national team to boycott their upcoming fixtures against Israel.
Earlier this month, Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said “we’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, we’re not playing with Israel” — drawing a furious reaction from the Israeli soccer federation, which accused the Icelandic coach of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.”
Israel has repeatedly and vehemently rejected allegations of genocide, saying its actions in Gaza adhere to international law as it battles a terror group deeply embedded within the civilian population.
The war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught against Israel, in which terrorists killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages amid widely documented atrocities and targeting of civilians.
Ireland has been one of the most strident critics of Israel amid the war in Gaza. Israel has accused Ireland of antisemitism and shuttered its embassy in Dublin.
Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel over the Gaza conflict.
No tickets for the game will be made available to Irish supporters after the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) declined its allocation.
The Football Association of Ireland had resisted calls to boycott the matches, arguing the team could be hit by punishing sanctions from UEFA. Ireland will co-host the 2028 European Championship with England, Wales and Scotland. Israel has not yet qualified to play in that tournament.
The Times of Israel Community.