The turmoil surrounding the tense Nations League match between Ireland and Israel continued Saturday and intensified. Ireland's news conference, scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Israel time, was postponed at the last minute, while the team's training session in Debrecen was also delayed.
According to a report in the Irish Independent, backup goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu informed officials that he does not want to take part in the match against Israel, and other players are now considering taking a similar position.
The report said Bazunu, who last season served as Daniel Peretz's backup at Southampton, decided not to participate because of his discomfort over facing Israel at this time. His decision was conveyed Saturday morning to officials at the Football Association of Ireland. The newspaper said the development could prompt additional players to consider sitting out the match.
The controversy began Friday, when Ireland's players held a meeting in Pristina before flying to Hungary. The meeting took place, but reports said it remained unclear whether the players had reached a common position on how to approach the match against Israel.
In recent days, the possibility has been raised of the players issuing a joint statement separate from any official statement by the Irish federation. Reports also said some players were considering refusing to shake hands with Israeli players and giving up their match bonuses to donate them to charity.
Bazunu does not want to play against Israel
(Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
The latest development came after Irish and Israeli journalists had already gathered in the news conference room at the stadium in Debrecen. The Irish federation then announced that the news conference, featuring coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player from the squad, would not take place as scheduled and would instead be held after training.
"I've never encountered anything like this," a UEFA official said after the postponement.
Tensions within the squad had already surfaced before the match. Midfielder Jason Knight said after Ireland's 1-0 loss to Kosovo that, in his view, "the match against Israel should not take place."
Chiedozie Ogbene also addressed the situation, saying he believed it was unfair to put the players in this position. He said there was a distinction between playing the match and holding political views, stressing that questions about UEFA's decisions should be directed to the European governing body, not the players.
The protest is coming mainly from within the team
(Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
The players are not united in their positions. Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said before the international window began that he had spoken individually with all 26 members of the squad.
With part of Euro 2028 set to be staged in Ireland, the team cannot afford to simply refuse to play, as a no-show would be expected to bring severe sanctions from UEFA.