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Protest gestures stood out in the neutral-site match

The Ireland-Israel match in UEFA Nations League Group 3B was played behind closed doors at a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia. Before kickoff, the Irish players wore black armbands in memory of Palestinians killed in Gaza and lowered their heads during the Israeli national anthem. Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher also did not shake hands with Israel captain Dor Peretz during the ceremony.

The gesture echoed what happened in last week’s first meeting in Debrecen, Hungary. In that game too, Ireland captain Dara O’Shea did not shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon. With O’Shea unavailable because of his wife’s birth, Kelleher wore the captain’s armband.

How did the score line develop?

Ireland went ahead in the 39th minute through a Troy Parrott penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Dor Peretz fouled Jimmy Dunne. A brief flashpoint broke out on the touchline as the players headed to the dressing rooms at half-time, but the referee stepped in and prevented the argument from escalating.

Israel struck back early in the second half. Peretz levelled the match at 1-1 in the 47th minute with a close-range finish, earning his side a draw.

Boycott calls and federation decision fuel debate

The match had originally been due to take place in Dublin. However, in June, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) moved it to a neutral venue and announced that it would be played without spectators, citing operational reasons. The decision came against the backdrop of growing boycott calls in the country over the war in Gaza.

Before that, in November, the FAI had also brought forward a motion calling on UEFA to suspend Israel from club and international competition. Even so, the federation argued that refusing to play could expose it to UEFA sanctions. Ireland will co-host the 2028 European Championship alongside England, Wales and Scotland.

  • More than 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter urging the FAI to reconsider its decision.
  • Protests were held outside the team hotel in Dublin, while the SIPTU union hung a large banner in the city centre calling on players to act according to their conscience.
  • Backup goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu chose not to feature in either of the Israel matches for personal reasons tied to his faith.

Fresh pre-match claims and broadcaster stance

A new row also erupted after an Israeli journalist claimed at the pre-match press conference that Irish players had insulted their opponents in last week’s game. The Irish side immediately denied the allegation, and the press conference ended. Before the first match in Debrecen, lengthy discussions had also taken place within the squad, delaying the press conference and training session by hours; players were later reported to have voted to go ahead with the match.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ aired the two matches against Israel only in a limited way to meet its contractual obligations. The network did not use a studio programme, analysis, international commentary, or advertising and sponsorship elements. In Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Austria, tennis balls with Palestinian flags were thrown onto the pitch, and one person tried to run onto the field carrying a Palestinian flag.

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