Republic of Ireland to wear black armbands for Israel game

Republic of Ireland to wear black armbands for Israel game

Republic of Ireland players intend to wear black armbands “in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict” for Sunday’s Nations League game against Israel in Hungary, after confirming they will go ahead with the fixture.

Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive David Courell confirmed one player has withdrawn from the squad before the match.

But he added that a vote among the squad produced a “significant majority” in favour of playing.

As well as the intention to wear black armbands for Sunday’s ‘away’ game against Israel in Debrecen, Courell said the players will make further gestures for the initial game and the return ‘home’ fixture against Israel next Sunday in Serbia.

The fixtures have been embroiled in controversy since the two teams were drawn to play each other in Group B3.

Republic of Ireland players faced calls to withdraw from the games because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war with a “Stop The Game” campaign – organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine – gathering pace.

“One of their requests is to remove their media obligations for the remainder of this window,” Courell said at Saturday’s delayed news conference.

“They also have the intention to wear black armbands in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict.

“There will be elements of the pre-match ceremony not be partaken in by the Republic of Ireland and it is also the intention of the players to make a significant contribution to charitable donation by virtue of both [Israel] match fees and also the fixture against Austria at the Aviva [Stadium in Dublin on Thursday].”