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Ireland players make protest against Israel by lowering heads during national anthem

The highly-contentious match, which saw Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno boycott the Nations League match, saw Heimir Hallgrímsson’s players wear black armbands with the game held on neutral territory in Debrecen, Hungary

Published: Sunday, 27 September 2026 at 8:45 PM
Ireland players make protest against Israel by lowering heads during national anthem
Key Things to Know
  • Ireland players lowered their heads and wore black armbands during the Nations League match against Israel.
  • Irish captain Dara O’Shea did not shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon before kickoff.
  • Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu boycotted the game due to personal opposition to the actions in Gaza.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Ireland players staged a protest by bowing their heads and keeping their hands behind their backs during the Israeli national anthem before Sunday's Nations League fixture in Debrecen, Hungary. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson's team also wore black armbands during the controversial match, while captain Dara O'Shea did not attempt to shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu boycotted the match due to personal beliefs regarding the conflict in Gaza, and broadcaster RTE provided reduced coverage. On the pitch, Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 13th minute inside the mostly empty stadium.

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