Irish soccer team wears black armbands, refuse to shake Israeli players' hands during match
The decision follows several conflicts amid the team, with players even demanding not to play the game due to the war in Gaza.
Irish-Israeli soccer player Finn Azaz, who represents the Irish national team, is reportedly considering retiring from international soccer following recent tensions surrounding the upcoming fixture against Israel, according to reports from Irish sports outlet The 42.
According to The Irish Independent, Azaz addressed his teammates during a team meeting to discuss the situation and the potential consequences of the match. The report suggests that the FAI might have been the source of the idea for Azaz to retire.
Throughout his career, Azaz has been open about his Israeli heritage, as his mother is from Israel. In his debut for Ireland's under-21 team, he made it clear that he aspired to play for Ireland due to his father's roots in the country. In a June 2025 interview with Sunday Times Ireland, Azaz elaborated on his family's connection to Israel, revealing that his grandmother served in the Israeli Defense Forces and later built a successful business in England.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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