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Ireland players wore black armbands and did not shake hands 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 players wore black armbands and did not shake hands with Israel before their Nations League match on Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary. The match had faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel's actions in Gaza.
Ireland Players Protest Before Nations League Match
During the Israeli national anthem, the Irish players looked down at the grass with their hands behind their backs. Ireland captain Dara O'Shea approached the center of the field for the pre-match talk with his hands still clasped behind his back. O'Shea shook hands with the referee and his assistants but made no attempt to shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon. Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno decided on 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. There was a small group of Israeli fans in the otherwise almost-empty stadium in Debrecen, Hungary. An even smaller group of around 10 people without colors celebrated when Troy Parrott broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. There were not supposed to be any Irish fans present.
Some Ireland supporters who managed to get tickets through the Israeli soccer federation told Irish broadcaster RTE that those tickets had been canceled on Saturday night. Adam Idah made it 2-0 three minutes after Parrott's opener. Jack Moylan got the third goal in the 25th minute. It was 3-0 at halftime.
The match was played on Sunday, September 27, 2026, according to the Associated Press. Eliel Peretz of Israel, left, was in action against Conor Coventry of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League soccer match. The photo was taken by Zsolt Czegledi of MTI via AP. The game took place amid widespread opposition in Ireland to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Black Armbands and Handshake Boycott
The Irish team's decision to wear black armbands and avoid handshakes with the Israeli team was a visible protest. The Irish players stood with their hands behind their backs during the Israeli anthem, a break from the usual pre-match protocol. Captain Dara O'Shea kept his hands clasped behind his back as he walked to the center of the field for the pre-match coin toss and talk with the referee.
He shook hands with the referee and assistant referees but did not offer a handshake to Israel captain Manor Solomon. The rest of the Ireland players also did not shake hands with their Israeli counterparts. Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno had announced on Saturday that he would not play in either of Ireland's two games against Israel. He cited his personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.
His decision was a individual protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. The stadium in Debrecen was almost empty, with only a small group of Israeli fans present. A group of about 10 people without team colors celebrated when Troy Parrott scored in the 13th minute. No Irish fans were supposed to be in the stadium.
Some Ireland supporters who had obtained tickets through the Israeli soccer federation were told by Irish broadcaster RTE that their tickets had been canceled on Saturday night. Adam Idah scored Ireland's second goal three minutes after Parrott's opener. Jack Moylan added a third goal in the 25th minute. Ireland led 3-0 at halftime and went on to win the match.
Gaza Protests During Ireland Victory
The game was part of the UEFA Nations League. The match had been contentious in Ireland, where many people opposed Israel's actions in Gaza. The Irish team's protests were a form of political expression during a sporting event. The Israeli team's national anthem was played before the match, and the Irish players stood with their hands behind their backs and looked down at the grass.
The Associated Press reported the events of the match. The photo of the match showed Eliel Peretz of Israel, left, in action against Conor Coventry of Ireland. The photo was taken by Zsolt Czegledi of MTI via AP. The match took place on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The Irish team's decision to wear black armbands and not shake hands was a significant gesture. It followed the decision by Gavin Bazuno to boycott the games. The protests were peaceful and did not disrupt the match. Ireland won the game 3-0 with goals from Parrott, Idah and Moylan.
The Israeli team did not score. The match was played in Debrecen, Hungary, because of security concerns. The stadium was almost empty, with only a small group of Israeli fans and about 10 neutral spectators celebrating Ireland's goals. No Irish fans were officially allowed, but some had obtained tickets through the Israeli federation and then had them canceled.
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CTVToronto: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 Troy Parrott Goal
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