Ireland Soccer Players Again Wear Black Armbands and Refuse Handshakes with Israel Team
Ireland also wore black armbands as players again skipped handshakes and bowed during the anthem amid boycott pressure over Gaza.
- On Sunday, Irish captain Kelleher pointedly avoided shaking hands with Israel captain Dor Peretz before the UEFA Nations League match in Backa Topola, Serbia, while his team bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem.
- Following boycott calls over Gaza, the FAI moved the match to a neutral venue for "operational reasons" in June, and the team reportedly voted 14-8 to continue with the fixtures after internal deliberation.
- Dara previously declined to shake hands with captain Manor Solomon in Debrecen, Hungary last week, continuing a pattern of tension from the Ireland match against Austria where protesters threw tennis balls and Palestinian flags.
- An Israeli journalist's claim that Irish players used the slur "monkeys" led communications officer Kieran Crowley to end the press conference, as he immediately rebuffed the statement as "a lie."
- Honoring victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, Israeli players wore armbands, while reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno remained the only player to withdraw from the fixtures citing personal belief.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Ireland soccer players again wear black armbands and refuse handshakes
BACKA TOPOLA, Serbia (AP) — Ireland players again wore black armbands and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem before the teams’ second Nations League soccer match on Sunday. The Israeli players also wore black armbands
Politics instead of fair play: As in the beginning, the Irish national team against Israel in the Nations League is making an eclipse. The captain refuses the obligatory handshake, even with the anthem there are disrespect.
Winnipeg Free Press
Ireland soccer players again wear black armbands and refuse handshakes with Israel team
BACKA TOPOLA, Serbia (AP) — Ireland players again wore black armbands and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem before the teams’ second Nations League soccer match on Sunday.
Caoimhín Kelleher refused to shake the hand of Israel captain Dor Peretz on Sunday evening. The Ireland goalkeeper did, however, wish the referees good luck after the coin toss before walking back towards his team.
The meeting of the 4th round of the League of Nations between Ireland and Israel, which is played on a neutral ground in Bačka Topola at the TSC Arena stadium, brought again the scenes we saw in the first meeting.
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