Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the national squad ahead of their Nations League fixture against Israel following discussions among the players.
Bazunu Withdraws Over Israel Fixture
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad before matches against Israel in the UEFA Nations League, confirming his decision in a statement published on Instagram. The Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper informed the squad on Friday that he would not participate in the games, including the fixture scheduled in Bačka Topola, Serbia, and a subsequent match.
“Representing my country means everything to me. I have the utmost respect for every single one of my team-mates, the manager, his staff and the Irish people,” Bazunu stated. “However I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle therefore 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. It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region,” he wrote.
FAI Squad Vote Proceeds With Match
The Republic of Ireland squad’s preparations were disrupted on Friday when training and press conferences were postponed for several hours while players debated whether to fulfill the fixture. FAI Chief Executive David Courell confirmed that the team ultimately voted to proceed with the match following a “significant majority” vote by the players. Former Irish manager Brian Kerr reported on Virgin Media that the players’ internal vote was 14-8, excluding Bazunu, according to his dressing room sources.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson acknowledged that players could hold further discussions regarding the match. As confirmed by the Israel Football Association, Sunday’s encounter in Debrecen is expected to proceed in a largely empty 20,340-capacity venue, with only 150 tickets sold to Israeli supporters alongside 100 complimentary tickets issued for officials, journalists, and contractual obligations. While the FAI confirmed no official tickets were distributed to Republic of Ireland supporters due to a major boycott campaign, secondary online marketplaces such as Ticombo advertised a small number of tickets starting around €240.
To acknowledge the broader human toll of the conflict, FAI chief David Courell stated that the Irish players will wear black armbands on the pitch to recognize all lives lost, alongside a substantial charitable donation made jointly by the squad and the association.
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