Ireland decide to fulfil Israel fixture after team vote despite Bazunu withdrawing

[p][b]"We carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/israel/rqK1ypob/"]Israel[/a]) fixtures," [/b]Football Association of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ireland/Gfyqk1aG/"]Ireland[/a] head David Courell told reporters in Debrecen, Hungary, where [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ireland-Gfyqk1aG/israel-rqK1ypob/?mid=2ySQv2E6"]the game will take place on Sunday[/a].[/p][p][b]"It was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue,"[/b] said Courell.[/p][p][b]"Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures," [/b]he said.[/p][p]Ireland are scheduled to play two Nations League fixtures against Israel, with the first - officially Israel's home fixture - to be played at the neutral venue in Hungary.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ireland-Gfyqk1aG/israel-rqK1ypob/?mid=WA8jeNbm"]Ireland's designated home match on October 4th[/a] was moved from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security.[/p][p][b]"I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly," [/b]Bolton's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bazunu-gavin/EBDu7nbJ/"]Bazunu[/a] said on Instagram.[/p][p][b]"I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel. My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong," [/b]the 24-year-old added.[/p][embed guid="5fa5ec9f-e902-48e4-aa28-c2e9df278584" url="https://x.com/McDonnellDan/status/2103921416370332110" social-type="twitter" /][p]Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country's own history of British rule.[/p][p]Dublin, alongside Spain and Norway, formally recognised a Palestinian state in 2024, and has repeatedly criticised Israel over the Gaza conflict.[/p][p]Israel strongly rejects allegations that its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.[/p][p][b]"Football has won; the separation between football and politics must be maintained,"[/b] said a statement by the Israeli FA later Saturday, hailing the Irish decision.[/p][p][b]"The ones who have certainly lost today are those who wanted to intimidate, to separate and to turn the football pitch into a political arena,"[/b] it added.[/p][image alt="Winning probability" id="45bc6efa-8789-4fd3-b4a2-730388951daf" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="97e9f36c-6392-4f67-84e1-4225394a9ba9" original-width="3840" original-height="2160" /][p]Since Ireland were drawn in the same Nations League group as Israel, prominent Irish figures including sportspeople, fan groups and pro-Palestinian campaigners have protested against the ties going ahead.[/p][p]Bazunu's decision triggered the delay of a scheduled press conference on Saturday, followed by a vote among the squad on whether to fulfil the fixture or not.[/p][p][b]"Nobody is comfortable playing these games for many reasons,"[/b] said Ireland's Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrimsson.[/p][p][b]"We are trying to tackle it in the best way we can at the moment,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]Ireland players will not fulfil any media duties tomorrow, or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/austria-naHiWdnt/ireland-Gfyqk1aG/?mid=lUmO9MDt"]against Austria in Dublin on October 1st[/a], or around the game against Israel in Serbia three days later, said Courell.[/p][p]The players will wear black armbands "for all lives lost in the conflict" during Sunday's match, with profits from the Austria game to be donated to charity, he said.[/p][p]Sunday's match comes days after national broadcaster RTE confirmed Ireland would again boycott the Eurovision Song Contest next year because of Israel's participation.[/p][p]In a rare move for a state broadcaster, RTE said earlier it will show the Israel game without Irish commentary or pundits.[/p][infobox id="5a8fbd57-e97c-4bdc-9f6b-fb0fb254e893" /]