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Ireland players wore black armbands and declined handshakes with Israel before their Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary. Ireland won 3-0 with goals from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan.
Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in a contentious Nations League soccer match in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, after the Irish team wore black armbands and did not shake hands with the Israeli players before kickoff.
The match has faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel's actions in Gaza. The Irish players looked down at the grass with their hands behind their backs during the playing of the Israeli national anthem. Irish captain Dara O'Shea approached the center of the field for the pre-match talk with his hands still firmly clasped behind his back.
Gavin Bazuno Boycotts Match Against Israel
O'Shea shook hands with the referee and his assistants, but there was no attempt to shake the hand of Israel captain Manor Solomon. The absence of handshakes between the two teams was evident before the match began. Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno decided Saturday to boycott both of Ireland's games against Israel. He said it was his personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.
His decision added to the protests surrounding the fixture. There was a small group of Israeli fans in the otherwise almost-empty stadium in Debrecen. An even smaller group of around 10 people without colors were celebrating when Troy Parrott broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. There weren't supposed to be any Irish fans present.
Irish Support Tickets Canceled Amidst Protests
Some Ireland supporters who managed to get tickets through the Israeli soccer federation told Irish broadcaster RTE that those tickets had been canceled Saturday night. The lack of Irish fans followed the controversy over the match. Adam Idah made it 2-0 three minutes after Parrott's opener. Jack Moylan got Ireland's third goal in the 25th minute, and it was 3-0 at halftime.
Ireland maintained control of the game after the break. The match took place amid bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel's actions in Gaza. The Irish team's black armbands and refusal to shake hands reflected the political tension surrounding the game. The final score was Ireland 3, Israel 0.
Stadium Nearly Empty During Contentious Nations League Match
Eliel Peretz of Israel was in action against Conor Coventry of Ireland during the match. The game was played at a nearly empty stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, with only a small group of Israeli fans present. The Associated Press reported that there were no handshakes between Ireland and Israel players before the contentious Nations League match. The Irish team wore black armbands, and the game has faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel's actions in Gaza.
The Irish players looked down at the grass with their hands behind their backs during the playing of the Israeli national anthem. O'Shea shook hands with the referee and his assistants but did not shake hands with Solomon. Bazuno's boycott of both games against Israel was announced Saturday. Around 10 people without colors celebrated when Parrott scored in the 13th minute.
Some Ireland supporters who got tickets through the Israeli soccer federation told RTE that those had been canceled Saturday night. Idah scored three minutes after Parrott, and Moylan scored in the 25th minute. See AP's full soccer coverage for more details on the match and the surrounding events.
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CP24:Ireland players wear black armbands and refrain from handshakes in soccer game against IsraelThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Sports Ireland Israel Nations League Black Armbands Protest Gavin Bazuno Boycott Debrecen Hungary Soccer UEFA Nations League 2026
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