Referee Juan Martínez Munuera speaks with Israel's Dor Peretz and Ireland’s goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher ahead of the match. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
FAI President Paul Cooke ahead of the match. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
16 mins ago
7:48PM
The match is underway…
16 mins ago
7:48PM
The world-feed commentator has at least acknowledged that there was no handshake between the two captains.
Though there is no mention of why, or any reference at all to Gaza, the genocide Israel are committing and the various pre-match controversies.
19 mins ago
7:45PM
As expected, Irish players bow their heads during the Israeli national anthem like they did last week.
There are no pre-match handshakes or the usual pleasantries exchanged between the sides.
22 mins ago
7:43PM
Here’s RTÉ reporter Tony O’Donoghue’s interview with Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson ahead of the game.
Heimir Hallgrimsson confirms Jimmy Dunne replaces the absent Dara O'Shea for Israel game in Serbia, while Finn Azaz starts the game on the bench due to fitness - 'obviously emotional fitness is an important factor in players' #rtesoccer https://t.co/E9uNkWFa2j
Per AFP: “Israel’s national football team will wear black armbands in their Nations League clash against Ireland on Sunday to commemorate the victims of Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack, its football association said, after Irish players wore them to protest the war in Gaza.
“The move comes a week after the teams played at a near-empty stadium in Hungary, with Irish players bowing their heads during Israel’s national anthem and no exchange of handshakes.
“The Israeli Football Association said Sunday that the request to wear black armbands had been approved by Uefa before the team faces Ireland in the small Serbian town of Backa Topola.”
A view of the Ireland and Israel flags during the warm up ahead of the match. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
34 mins ago
7:31PM
David Sneyd reports: “Uefa have banned two of the Israeli journalists from tonight’s post-match press conferences after their behaviour yesterday.
“The FAI had to bring a premature end to the pre-game duties after one reporter brought up the alleged hijacking of the FlyDubai plane, followed by another making an unfounded accusation of racist abuse against unnamed Irish players when the sides met last Sunday.”
LIVE: Ireland v Israel, Nations League
An editorial note re: The 42’s reporting on the Uefa Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel is available to read here.
Meanwhile, elsewhere today…
The match is underway…
The world-feed commentator has at least acknowledged that there was no handshake between the two captains.
Though there is no mention of why, or any reference at all to Gaza, the genocide Israel are committing and the various pre-match controversies.
As expected, Irish players bow their heads during the Israeli national anthem like they did last week.
There are no pre-match handshakes or the usual pleasantries exchanged between the sides.
Here’s RTÉ reporter Tony O’Donoghue’s interview with Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson ahead of the game.
Per AFP: “Israel’s national football team will wear black armbands in their Nations League clash against Ireland on Sunday to commemorate the victims of Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack, its football association said, after Irish players wore them to protest the war in Gaza.
“The move comes a week after the teams played at a near-empty stadium in Hungary, with Irish players bowing their heads during Israel’s national anthem and no exchange of handshakes.
“The Israeli Football Association said Sunday that the request to wear black armbands had been approved by Uefa before the team faces Ireland in the small Serbian town of Backa Topola.”
David Sneyd reports: “Uefa have banned two of the Israeli journalists from tonight’s post-match press conferences after their behaviour yesterday.
“The FAI had to bring a premature end to the pre-game duties after one reporter brought up the alleged hijacking of the FlyDubai plane, followed by another making an unfounded accusation of racist abuse against unnamed Irish players when the sides met last Sunday.”
The 42‘s David Sneyd is in position for the game, and we will be including some of his dispatches in this liveblog.
Confirmation of the Ireland team below.
Heimir Hallgrímsson has made four changes.
James Abankwah is suspended, and Dara O’Shea is unavailable due to the birth of his child. Finn Azaz and John Egan drop to the bench.
Jimmy Dunne, Jason Knight, Jayson Molumby and Jake O’Brien come into the starting XI.
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
Like last week, it will be different from our usual minute-by-minute reports.
You can read this note to understand why.
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heimir halgrimsson Liveblog Minute-by-Minute Nations League Soccer Ireland Republic Israel