Republic of Ireland to wear black armbands for Israel game

26 September 2026, 14: 38 BST. Updated 1 hour ago.

Key points

• The armed Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing regarding 1, 200 residents and taking 251 hostages.
• The Republic of Ireland lost their opening Nations League fixture in Kosovo on Thursday, a match overshadowed in the build-up by the Israel games.
• Israel Football Association head of communications Shlomi Barzel commended the Republic of Ireland team for confirming they will play, saying "football has won".
• Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr and ex-international James McClean are among those to have backed calls for a boycott of the fixtures.
• Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive David Courell confirmed one player has withdrawn from the squad before the match.

After confirming they will go ahead with the fixture, republic of Ireland players intend to wear black armbands "in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict" for Sunday's Nations League game against Israel in Hungary.

But he continued that a vote among the squad produced a "significant majority" in favour of playing.

As well as the intention to wear black armbands for Sunday's 'away' game against Israel in Debrecen, Courell remarked the players will produce further gestures for the initial game and the return 'home' fixture against Israel next Sunday in Serbia.

For context, the fixtures have been embroiled in controversy since the two teams were drawn to play each other in Group B3.

Republic of Ireland players faced calls to withdraw from the games since of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war with a "Stop The Game" campaign – organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine – gathering pace.

"One of their requests is to remove their media obligations for the remainder of this window, " Courell remarked at Saturday's delayed news conference.

They additionally have the intention to wear black armbands in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict.

"There will be elements of the pre-match ceremony not be partaken in by the Republic of Ireland and it is also the intention of the players to make a significant contribution to charitable donation by virtue of both match fees and also the fixture against Austria at the Aviva."

There appeared to be real doubt on Saturday morning whether the fixture would take place.

For context, a pre-match news conference with manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player, scheduled for 09: 15 BST, was postponed just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to start, with reporters informed it would instead take place after the team's training session which was additionally delayed.

Notably, the players were locked in a session back at their hotel after it emerged a player, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, withdrew from the game in protest with a number of other expressing their reservations concerning fielding.

Regarding 13: 00, players began to filter out of the gathering room, with it then confirmed the news conference would indeed go ahead, back at Nagyerdei Stadion at 14: 30, with training to follow.

More than five hours after the initial news conference was scheduled to commence, Courell – flanked by Hallgrimsson and FAI director of football John Martin – confirmed a players' vote passed by a "significant majority" to play the game.

"This morning, a player expressed their discomfort at the fixture and indicated their intent to withdraw, " Courell remarked.

This new variable required time for the rest of the squad to consider and what proceeded was another four hours of conversations, predominantly among the players, but additionally at times with coaching staff and the executive.

"There were a lot of positions presented and the association is fully respectful of everyone's right to their respective opinion."

Afterwards on Saturday, Bazunu posted on social media explaining his decision, one that he stated he had "not taken lightly".

"I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle, therefore I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel, " he remarked.

My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent individuals is wrong.

It is significant to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israel residents or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region.

"There are few times when you get a chance in life to stand up for something bigger and I strongly believe that this is one of them."

Neutral venues and no 'away' fans – how Israel v Republic of Ireland became so contentious. Republic of Ireland squad will meet to discuss Israel games. 'It's a situation you can't win' – Hallgrimsson.

Notably, the armed Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing regarding 1, 200 residents and taking 251 hostages.

In response, Israel introduced a massive military offensive in Gaza, during which more than 73, 000 residents have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Hallgrimsson relayed that nobody "can understand the pressure that has been going on these players" and remarked the lengthy gathering on Saturday stemmed from "a change of mind for one of the players to play the game".

"All of the rest of the players are training today, " he confirmed.

The balance changed with this and obviously it was an ongoing discussion but we came to a conclusion and the game is going ahead.

"We will train and there will probably be more discussions tonight and probably tomorrow. It's a unique situation and we are just trying to limit the damage."

For context, the Republic of Ireland lost their opening Nations League fixture in Kosovo on Thursday, a match overshadowed in the build-up by the Israel games.

Asked whether the far from ideal preparation for Sunday's game would affect the players, the Irish boss remarked "we will see".

"Nobody is comfortable but it's about limiting the damage, both personally and for Irish football, that we need to find some solution on it, " Hallgrimsson continued.

There is no action we do that everyone will agree to, so we need to find a solution to limit the damage for us as a group, for Ireland as a nation and the association for football in Ireland.

"We don't know the consequences if we don't play the game but a lot of players share a common feeling, so there are two choices and both are tough. It's a situation you can't win."

Notably, a spokesperson for the Irish governement insists any decision regarding the fixtures lie firmly at the door of the FAI and Uefa.

"The FAI had decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with their obligations as members of Uefa. After engagement with players today decision stands, " they stated.

"The FAI has strongly represented the views of its membership that Israel should be excluded from international football competitions, including bringing a motion to Uefa to this effect last year. The reality is that this motion was not passed by Uefa and that the FAI was obliged to fulfil the fixture." 'Football has won' – Israel FA's Barzel.

Taken together, the developments around republic of Ireland to wear black armbands for Israel game point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.