No handshakes between Republic of Ireland and Israel

The Republic of Ireland and Israel players did not engage in a handshake ceremony before their controversial Uefa Nations League match in Hungary on Sunday. Instead, they stood for their respective national anthems, with the Irish squad appearing to bow their heads during the Israeli anthem. The two teams also avoided exchanging pennants, as was customary before the game.

Israel captain Manor Solomon and Republic of Ireland captain Dara O Shea did not shake hands either. The fixture between the two teams has been embroiled in controversy since February when they were drawn to play each other in Group B3. The Republic of Ireland players faced calls to withdraw from the game due to the Israel-Gaza war, with a "Stop The Game" campaign led by Irish Sport for Palestine gaining traction.

Despite this, the players decided to play during a meeting at their hotel in Debrecen on Saturday. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu later withdrew from the squad, stating he felt it would be wrong to participate in the game and the return fixture in Serbia on October 4th. The Irish players wore black armbands, which the FAI chief executive David Courell said was a gesture in recognition of all lives lost in the Gaza conflict.

However, the players' performance was marred by jeers from a small group of Israel fans who attended the pre-game warm-up.