The head coach of The Republic of Ireland, Heimir Hallgrimsson says his players “raised awareness worldwide” after the Irish squad declined to participate in pre-match formalities with Israel during their UEFA Nations League encounter in Hungary.
The Republic of Ireland and Israel players did not shake hands before the match, while the Irish players bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem. Ireland captain Dara O’Shea and Israel skipper Manor Solomon also did not exchange the traditional pre-match pennants.
Ireland won the Group B3 encounter 3-0 at a neutral venue in Hungary, with the fixture having been surrounded by controversy since the teams were drawn together in February.
Irish players had faced calls to withdraw from the matches amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, with the “Stop The Game” campaign, organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine, urging the Football Association of Ireland and players to boycott the fixtures.
Hallgrimsson said the situation had been difficult for members of his squad but argued that their actions had drawn international attention to the issue.
“It has been so difficult for so many players,” Hallgrimsson told RTÉ after the match.
“I hope that will not be in the next game because they have shown support to the protest, they have raised awareness worldwide, not only in Ireland, on the subject and that is normally the reason for protesting, to raise awareness of a situation.”
The Irish players had held a lengthy meeting at their hotel in Debrecen on Saturday before voting to fulfil the fixture.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu subsequently withdrew from the squad, saying he believed it would be wrong for him to participate in the match and the return fixture, scheduled for October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia.
The Irish players also wore black armbands. FAI chief executive David Courell said the gesture was intended to recognise “all lives lost” in the Gaza conflict.
