Heimir Hallgrimsson has confirmed that the Republic of Ireland plan to fulfil the Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) request to play a second Nations League fixture against Israel on Sunday evening. This comes despite widespread public anger over the match amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Victory overshadowed by protests
Ireland secured a 3-0 victory over Israel in their second encounter of the tournament at the weekend, with goals from Troy Parrot, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan. Yet it was anything but a routine affair. Beyond Gavin Bazunu withdrawing from the squad due to personal reasons, with defender Jimmy Dunne taking his spot on the substitutes' bench as an emergency goalkeeper, numerous protests took place both before and throughout the fixture.
Captains Dara O'Shea and Manor Solomon declined to exchange pennants or pleasantries beforehand, while also refusing to shake hands following the referee's coin toss. Additionally, Irish players on the field and backroom staff on the bench bowed their heads while the Israeli national anthem played throughout the Nagyerdei Stadium in Hungary, wearing black armbands in acknowledgement of all those who have died in the Gaza conflict.
Moylan also kissed the armband in a deliberate gesture after netting his strike in the contest. Supporters in Ireland and beyond, meanwhile, boycotted watching the broadcast and have pledged to do likewise for this weekend's match, should it proceed.
Boycott pledges and Hallgrimsson's stance
Reports claim that thousands of supporters have endorsed a boycott, while hundreds of Irish pubs which refused to screen the initial fixture have vowed to maintain their stance. Now, head coach Hallgrimsson has addressed where his squad's mindset stands ahead of this weekend's return leg.
Speaking at a press conference this week, he said: "Obviously, the FAI have said that we are playing both the games and we are going to fulfil that. That was our intention when we came into this camp, and it's still our intention."
"It's been tough, especially on the players, it's been really, really tough and everybody understands that. But we are trying to focus on the football game against Austria (on Thursday). What happens after, like all this camp, we need to almost take it day by day. But that is already decided, we are going to fulfil the games."
Solomon's remarks and upcoming fixture
This follows Israel captain Solomon's claims in the aftermath of the weekend's match that they failed to see eye to eye with Ireland on the pitch. He remarked: "They said nonsense [to us] during the game, I don't want to talk about them. If I say what I think about them, I'll probably be banned for a few games so I don't want to say. Of course they hate us and we don't like them."
"I'm already looking forward to the next game against them, it's going to be completely different. What they did with the anthem? I'm not interested in them, we have a country that is 10 times better than theirs, stronger, an amazing country with amazing people. [The Irish] can play all their tricks. We are Israelis and love the country. And that will always be the case."
The two teams are set to face each other once again in the Nations League on Sunday, October 4, at the Gradski stadion Backa Topola in Serbia, with kick-off scheduled for 7.45pm.
