An editorial note re: The 42’s reporting on the Uefa Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel is available to read here.
THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland men’s team will play Israel on Sunday after a “significant majority” of players voted to proceed with the game.
Speaking at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary, that was delayed by five hours and 15 minutes as players were locked in discussions, FAI chief executive David Courell confirmed that the game will go ahead.
He also confirmed that one player has pulled out of the squad. As reported by the Irish Independent, Gavin Bazunu is one player who did not want to play the game, and The 42 understands that up to five of his teammates were also wavering.
“This morning, a player expressed their discomfort with fulfilling this fixture to the head coach and indicated their intent to withdraw from the squad,” said Courell, speaking alongside Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson and FAI director of football John Martin.
“This new variable required time and deliberation for the rest of the squad to consider.
“There were a lot of positions presented. From an Association perspective and for everyone involved in those conversations, we were fully respectful for everyone’s right to have their respective opinion on these topics.
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“Ultimately, within the last 90 minutes, we carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the fixtures, and it was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue.
“Based on that, the Association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended, to fulfill the fixtures.”
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson said: “This morning was just a change of mind for one of the players. There is nothing that we can do on that one. We can block out social media, all the news, all the pressure that is coming on the players.
“All the rest of the players are training today. The balance changed with this. It’s an ongoing discussion. We haven’t come to a conclusion to this, but we are going ahead. The game is going ahead. We are going to train and there will be more discussions tonight and probably tomorrow. It is a unique situation.”
“Nobody is comfortable playing this game for so many reasons,” Hallgrímsson added. “We are trying to tackle it in the best way we can at the moment.”
Courell noted that players will wear black armbands in recognition of “all lives lost in the conflict” and make a significant charitable donation. They will not partake in elements of the pre-match ceremony, and have requested to remove their media obligations for the remainder of the window.
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson (file photo). Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Questioned about his use of the word ‘genocide’ by the Israeli media, Hallgrímsson said: “I used a strong word definitely and the wrong word for me to use.
“There is a huge support in Europe, with the biggest support in Ireland, for Palestine. There is pressure in Ireland and protests to not play this fixture. I felt that pressure growing day by day and it is almost getting to a breaking limit now.
“By playing we are not accepting or supporting what is happening in Gaza.”
“The players feel they are doing something wrong by playing this game with the pressure from Ireland and from your own people. That is not a good feeling.”
Initial reaction
Reacting to the decision, the Stop the Game campaign said the FAI had stated that its priority was to protect its players, but it said that the organisation had failed “catastrophically and completely” in that duty.
The group said it will continue to oppose the “sportswashing of Israel’s genocide” and that further actions will follow in the coming days.
Social Democrats spokesperson on sport Daniel Ennis said there is “widespread public revulsion” in Ireland about the game, but he said the weight of the decision on whether to play “should never have been placed” on the Irish team.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on sport, Joanna Byrne TD, has said that the FAI board must reflect on their positions after “the worst decision ever made by any board of the FAI, and that is saying something”.
“The board of the FAI has betrayed Irish football, and most importantly, the people of Palestine,” said Byrne.
“This is a dark day for Irish football and for our country. The FAI board have acted against the will of the Irish people, and they should hang their heads in shame.”
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell, Emma Duffy and The Journal Team
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Ireland confirm they WILL play Israel after chaotic morning of discussions
LAST UPDATE | 23 hrs ago
An editorial note re: The 42’s reporting on the Uefa Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel is available to read here.
THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland men’s team will play Israel on Sunday after a “significant majority” of players voted to proceed with the game.
Speaking at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary, that was delayed by five hours and 15 minutes as players were locked in discussions, FAI chief executive David Courell confirmed that the game will go ahead.
He also confirmed that one player has pulled out of the squad. As reported by the Irish Independent, Gavin Bazunu is one player who did not want to play the game, and The 42 understands that up to five of his teammates were also wavering.
“This morning, a player expressed their discomfort with fulfilling this fixture to the head coach and indicated their intent to withdraw from the squad,” said Courell, speaking alongside Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson and FAI director of football John Martin.
“This new variable required time and deliberation for the rest of the squad to consider.
“There were a lot of positions presented. From an Association perspective and for everyone involved in those conversations, we were fully respectful for everyone’s right to have their respective opinion on these topics.
“Ultimately, within the last 90 minutes, we carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the fixtures, and it was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue.
“Based on that, the Association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended, to fulfill the fixtures.”
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson said: “This morning was just a change of mind for one of the players. There is nothing that we can do on that one. We can block out social media, all the news, all the pressure that is coming on the players.
“All the rest of the players are training today. The balance changed with this. It’s an ongoing discussion. We haven’t come to a conclusion to this, but we are going ahead. The game is going ahead. We are going to train and there will be more discussions tonight and probably tomorrow. It is a unique situation.”
“Nobody is comfortable playing this game for so many reasons,” Hallgrímsson added. “We are trying to tackle it in the best way we can at the moment.”
Courell noted that players will wear black armbands in recognition of “all lives lost in the conflict” and make a significant charitable donation. They will not partake in elements of the pre-match ceremony, and have requested to remove their media obligations for the remainder of the window.
Questioned about his use of the word ‘genocide’ by the Israeli media, Hallgrímsson said: “I used a strong word definitely and the wrong word for me to use.
“There is a huge support in Europe, with the biggest support in Ireland, for Palestine. There is pressure in Ireland and protests to not play this fixture. I felt that pressure growing day by day and it is almost getting to a breaking limit now.
“By playing we are not accepting or supporting what is happening in Gaza.”
“The players feel they are doing something wrong by playing this game with the pressure from Ireland and from your own people. That is not a good feeling.”
Initial reaction
Reacting to the decision, the Stop the Game campaign said the FAI had stated that its priority was to protect its players, but it said that the organisation had failed “catastrophically and completely” in that duty.
The group said it will continue to oppose the “sportswashing of Israel’s genocide” and that further actions will follow in the coming days.
Social Democrats spokesperson on sport Daniel Ennis said there is “widespread public revulsion” in Ireland about the game, but he said the weight of the decision on whether to play “should never have been placed” on the Irish team.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on sport, Joanna Byrne TD, has said that the FAI board must reflect on their positions after “the worst decision ever made by any board of the FAI, and that is saying something”.
“The board of the FAI has betrayed Irish football, and most importantly, the people of Palestine,” said Byrne.
“This is a dark day for Irish football and for our country. The FAI board have acted against the will of the Irish people, and they should hang their heads in shame.”
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell, Emma Duffy and The Journal Team
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