Republic of Ireland and Israel players declined to take part in the traditional pre-match handshake before their UEFA Nations League encounter in Hungary on Sunday, adding another unusual moment to a fixture that had attracted significant attention before kick-off.
The Group B3 meeting was played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, with the venue selected as a neutral ground for Israel’s home fixture.
The two teams walked onto the pitch for the national anthems, but the usual pre-match ceremony was noticeably different. The Republic of Ireland players stood for their anthem and appeared to bow their heads during Israel’s national anthem before both teams separated without completing the customary handshake.
There was also no exchange of pennants between the two captains. Ireland skipper Dara O’Shea and Israel captain Manor Solomon did not shake hands before the match, breaking with the traditional protocol normally observed before UEFA fixtures.
The decision came after days of intense attention surrounding the fixture. Ireland and Israel were drawn together in Group B3 of the 2026 UEFA Nations League, alongside Austria and Kosovo, with the matchup becoming particularly contentious because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
Pressure had been building on the Republic of Ireland players to withdraw from the fixture. A campaign known as “Stop The Game”, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine, called for the Irish team not to participate in the matches against Israel.
However, after a lengthy meeting at their team hotel in Debrecen on Saturday, Ireland’s players voted to fulfil Sunday’s fixture. The decision meant the match would go ahead despite the disagreement surrounding the team’s participation.
The Irish Football Association had also confirmed measures that would allow the players to express their position without withdrawing from the competition. Among them was the decision to wear black armbands during the game.
Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said the armbands were being worn in recognition of all lives lost in the Gaza conflict. The team had also agreed beforehand that it would not participate in the pre-match handshake or exchange of pennants.
One of the most significant developments before the game involved Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Bazunu withdrew from the squad after the decision was taken to proceed with the fixtures. The Southampton goalkeeper said he believed it would be wrong for him to participate in Sunday’s game against Israel and the return fixture scheduled for October 4.
His decision came after the Ireland squad had held several hours of discussions before voting to continue with the matches.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson admitted that the circumstances had created an unusually difficult week for his squad. The Icelandic coach said the level of scrutiny surrounding the fixture had generated mixed emotions among the players and made preparations more challenging.
Despite the controversy, Hallgrimsson’s focus was ultimately on ensuring his players remained prepared for the football itself.
The match was played in front of heightened security and attention, with the Nagyerdei Stadion providing the backdrop for a meeting that carried significance beyond the Nations League standings.
The fixture was Israel’s home match, but the game was moved to Hungary and played at a limited-capacity venue. Israeli supporters were present in the stadium, with fans seen carrying national flags and wearing team scarves.
The Republic of Ireland will host the return meeting on October 4, although that fixture will also be played away from Ireland, with Backa Topola in Serbia selected as the venue.
The unusual pre-match ceremony was therefore only one part of a wider story surrounding the two Nations League fixtures.
Ireland’s decision to fulfil the matches also reflects the requirements surrounding participation in UEFA competitions. Earlier in 2026, the Football Association of Ireland confirmed that its men’s team would play the scheduled Nations League fixtures against Israel after the two countries were drawn together. The FAI noted that UEFA regulations provide for forfeiture and possible disciplinary consequences if an association refuses to play a scheduled fixture.
For the players, Sunday’s events provided a visible demonstration that the match could proceed while some members of the Irish setup expressed their disagreement with aspects of the fixture.
The absence of the handshake and pennant exchange was particularly noticeable because both are normally routine parts of the moments immediately before kick-off.
Once the referee started the game, attention shifted back to the competition itself, with both teams seeking valuable points in Group B3.
But regardless of what happened during the 90 minutes, the images from the pre-match ceremony were certain to become one of the defining moments of the encounter, as Ireland and Israel entered their Nations League contest without the traditional handshake between the players.
