The Republic of Ireland squad refused to shake hands with their Israel opponents before their Nations League match on Sunday night. The teams met at a neutral venue in Debrecen, Hungary, after significant doubt over whether the fixture would take place.
Player withdrawal and stipulations
An Irish goalkeeper withdrew from the squad, stating: "My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong." The remaining players agreed to participate, but only under strict conditions, including no handshakes with the Israeli players and no pre-match team photographs.
The players wore black armbands in recognition of lives lost in Gaza.
Pre-match protocol
After the Ireland XI declined the usual pre-match handshake, captain Dara O'Shea also opted against shaking hands with Israel's Manor Solomon after the coin toss. He shook hands with the officials and returned to his teammates, who bowed their heads in unison during the Israeli national anthem.
