By Charles Maduka
Players of the Republic of Ireland and Israel did not shake hands before their controversial UEFA Nations League encounter in Hungary on Sunday.
According to BBC Sport, the Irish players stood for their national anthem after both teams entered the Nagyerdei Stadion pitch and appeared to bow their heads during Israel’s anthem.
The customary pre-match handshake was not observed after the national anthems. Ireland captain Dara O’Shea and his Israeli counterpart, Manor Solomon, also did not exchange handshakes or pennants.
The match has been the subject of controversy since Ireland and Israel were paired in Group B3 in February, amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
There had been calls for the Irish team to pull out of the fixtures, with the “Stop The Game” campaign by pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine urging the players not to take part.
However, Ireland’s players decided to feature in Sunday’s match following a lengthy meeting at their team hotel in Debrecen on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu later left the squad, saying he felt it would be inappropriate for him to take part in Sunday’s fixture and the return match scheduled for October 4 in Serbia.
The Irish team also played the match wearing black armbands. David Courell, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, said the gesture was intended to honour those who had lost their lives in the Gaza conflict.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said the controversy had made the week particularly difficult for both him and his players.
According to the coach, the intense attention surrounding the fixture had produced mixed feelings within the squad, while his main concern was to shield the players and keep them concentrated on the game.
The match was staged at a neutral venue in Hungary as attention remained high around the fixture.
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