Ireland soccer players again wear black armbands and refuse handshakes with Israel team

Ireland's soccer players once again honored the victims of the Hamas-led attacks in Gaza by wearing black armbands and refusing to shake hands with the Israeli national team before their second Nations League match on Sunday. The gesture was repeated in memory of those killed during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ireland's goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, who was absent from the first match due to his wife's childbirth, assumed the captaincy and deliberately avoided shaking hands with Israeli captain Dor Peretz.

The match, initially planned for Dublin, was relocated to a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia, due to mounting pressure from citizens advocating for a boycott in response to Israel's actions in Gaza. The decision followed a heated debate during a pre-match press conference, where accusations and denials were exchanged between the Irish and Israeli teams.

Despite the controversy, Ireland emerged victorious with a 3-0 win, with Ireland's Finn Azaz joining the substitutes after playing the entire previous match against Austria.