Ireland to play Israel in Nations League after team vote

Ireland's football team has decided to play their scheduled UEFA Nations League match against Israel on Sunday, following a vote among the players. David Courell, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, announced the decision on Saturday, stating that the match would proceed despite one player, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, expressing his intention to withdraw from the squad.

Bazunu, in a statement, emphasized that representing his country is of utmost importance to him and that he has strong faith and a commitment to character and principle. He clarified that his decision was based on his personal conviction against the atrocities occurring in the region, not opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community.

The match has garnered significant attention due to Ireland's vocal criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. Courell mentioned that four hours of discussions took place among players on Saturday, with an overwhelming majority supporting the decision to proceed with the match. Ireland's coach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, acknowledged the ongoing discussions but confirmed that the match will go ahead, with further conversations likely to take place.