Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson left midfielder Finn Azaz out of their 3-0 UEFA Nations League victory against Israel in Debrecen due to his Israeli heritage.
The 26-year-old remained on the bench as an unused substitute throughout Sunday's fixture in Hungary, having played the full 90 minutes three days earlier during Ireland's 1-0 defeat to Kosovo.
Hallgrimsson explained that Azaz was in a different position to other players in the squad, stating that the coaching staff had been supporting him along the way.
"We thought he was not ready to play," Hallgrimsson said. "He wanted to play, but it was my decision. He was not fit enough to play this game."
The manager added that selection decisions were made purely to win the match, saying: "We thought other players would fit better to win this game. We wanted to win this game and try to pick the best players to play and win. Today we thought others would fit better than him."
Squad discussions and player heritage
Azaz has dual heritage, with his mother holding Israeli citizenship while his father's family lives in Ireland. In an interview with the Sunday Times last year, Azaz revealed that his maternal grandmother had served as a general in the Israeli Defence Forces before moving to England to establish a business, while his grandfather was an artist.
"A lot of my dad's family are over in Ireland and my mum's dad died when I was quite young. My grandmother was a very special and unique woman," Azaz said in the interview. "She was in the Israeli army as a general and then she came to England and built an extremely successful business by herself. My grandfather was an artist, so she was very much in charge of raising the three kids."
According to the Irish Independent, Azaz delivered an impassioned speech to his teammates during internal squad discussions to present an Israeli perspective regarding whether the fixture should take place.
Reports in Ireland suggest that the midfielder is now considering retiring from international football following the current international window.
Anthem protests and match day gestures
The fixture in Debrecen was surrounded by political tension. Before kickoff, the entire Irish starting XI, alongside substitutes and coaching staff, looked down towards the floor in unison during the playing of the Israeli national anthem.
Ireland's players refused to participate in the customary pre-match handshake and chose not to present Israel with a pennant, which is a standard gesture in international football. The squad also voted to wear black armbands in memory of all lives lost in the conflict.
On the pitch, Ireland secured a 3-0 victory with first-half goals from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, and Jack Moylan. Celebrating his goal, Moylan removed his black armband and kissed it.
There were no handshakes between opposing players at full time, and the Irish squad was booed by spectators as they departed the field.
Goalkeeper withdrawal and squad reshuffle
Prior to the match, Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the Irish squad due to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
"I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle," Bazunu said when announcing his withdrawal. "My decision is based purely upon my belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong. It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region."
Bazunu is set to return for Ireland's Nations League encounter against Austria on October 1, but will be absent again three days later when Ireland face Israel for a second time on October 4.
Due to Bazunu's withdrawal, Ireland were forced to comply with UEFA rules requiring three goalkeepers in a matchday squad by naming QPR centre-back Jimmy Dunne as a backup goalkeeper on the official team sheet.
Boycott pressure and broadcast coverage
The match followed intense public pressure on the Football Association of Ireland to stage a boycott. The calls were coordinated by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine as part of its Stop The Game campaign, supported by former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and former international player James McClean.
A scheduled training session on Saturday was delayed by five hours while Irish players debated whether to boycott the fixture. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell confirmed that a significant majority of players ultimately voted to play.
Hallgrimsson admitted earlier in the week that nobody is comfortable playing these games for many reasons. He was also heavily criticised in Israel after stating that Ireland were playing against genocide.
Irish national broadcaster RTE scaled back its coverage of the match, offering no studio punditry or advertising and relying strictly on an international commentary feed. The broadcaster stated it would only meet its contractual obligations to air the game.
Diplomatic context and neutral venues
Tensions surrounding the fixture reflect broader political actions by Ireland regarding the Middle East conflict. In May 2024, Ireland officially recognised a Palestinian state alongside Spain and Norway. Later that year, Ireland joined South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Ireland was also the first European Union nation to boycott goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, refused participation in the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's involvement, and in June issued travel bans on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Earlier this month, 12 countries including the UK, France, and Canada announced sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements.
Demands for a boycott began immediately after the Nations League draw in February paired Ireland with Israel, Austria, and Kosovo. In July, FAI delegates voted 75 to 32 in favour of fulfilling the fixtures. The FAI opted to move its home match against Israel to a neutral venue, citing operational challenges that could impact delivery on home soil.
Hungary was selected to host the first fixture because of its strong diplomatic relations with Israel and willingness to provide security. The upcoming match on Sunday will take place behind closed doors at a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia, where the remote setting helps manage security and limits potential demonstrations. No tickets were sold to Irish supporters for either match, though a small allocation was made available for Israeli fans in Debrecen.
Gaza conflict figures and ceasefire status
The match was played against the backdrop of ongoing military action in Gaza. On Saturday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reported that the Palestinian death toll had reached 74,016, with 175,068 people injured since the conflict began.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Although a ceasefire implemented on October 10 last year halted major combat, continued Israeli strikes have resulted in 1,145 Palestinian deaths, while seven Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began.
Further progress on the US-brokered ceasefire remains stalled. Israeli forces currently control more than half of the territory, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that troops will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.
