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Sport

Ireland refuse handshakes with Israel players in Nations League protest, then race to 3-0 lead

Ireland players refused to shake hands with Israel's team before Sunday's Nations League match in Debrecen, then raced to a 3-0 lead with goals from Jack Moylan, Troy Parrott and Adam Idah.

By Tom Ellery · · 2 min read

Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah in the green Ireland shirt, photographed against Armenia in October 2025.
Photo: YantsImages, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Every Republic of Ireland player refused to shake hands with Israel’s players at the start of Sunday’s UEFA Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary, before racing to a 3-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes.

The teams separated after the anthems without the routine exchange of pennants and handshakes. Captain Dara O’Shea did not shake hands with his Israeli counterpart Manor Solomon, the Irish players bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem, and all wore black armbands, which their delegation said was a mark of respect “for all lives lost in the conflict”.

Ireland’s delegation had informed UEFA in advance that its players would not shake hands, and UEFA accepted this, Israel’s delegation said. The Debrecen match is officially Israel’s home fixture in Nations League B3.

On the pitch, Ireland led 3-0 by the 25th minute, with goals at 13, 15 and 25 minutes from Jack Moylan, Troy Parrott and Adam Idah.

The fixture only went ahead after a “significant majority” of Irish players voted on Saturday to fulfil it, following hours of discussions, FAI chief executive David Courell said in Debrecen. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad, saying it would be “wrong” for him to play.

Ireland’s return fixture against Israel on 4 October was moved to Backa Topola, Serbia, and will be played behind closed doors. Ireland’s players will not attend press conferences for the rest of the international window.

Sources

More on this topic: all Sport stories

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