Ireland to face Israel but skip handshakes

Ireland's football team will play its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel but will not exchange handshakes or pennants before the September 27 match in Debrecen, Hungary. The Israeli Football Association said “football has won” after Ireland backed off a match boycott.

The Football Association of Ireland said the squad was asked for its view on fulfilling the Israel fixtures after unease over the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of one unnamed player. FAI head David Courell said a “significant majority” supported continuing, and the association decided the fixture would go ahead.

Ireland is due to play Israel on September 27 in what is officially Israel's home fixture at a neutral venue. Ireland's designated home match against Israel on October 4 has been moved from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, after concerns over disruption and security.

Courell said Ireland players would not fulfil media duties around the Israel matches or the Austria game in Dublin on October 1. He said the players would wear black armbands “for all lives lost in the conflict” during the September 27 match, donate their match fees, and that profits from the Austria match would go to charity.

Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said one unnamed player withdrew from the squad, delaying a scheduled press conference and leading to the squad vote. “Nobody is comfortable playing these games for many reasons,” he said.

The fixtures have drawn opposition from Irish sportspeople, fan groups and pro-Palestinian campaigners. The FAI passed a motion last November asking UEFA to suspend Israel from international competition, but that effort was unsuccessful. The FAI has said it had little choice but to play the fixtures or risk sporting and financial sanctions.