The Republic of Ireland’s Nations League fixtures against Israel will go ahead after the players discussed the issue and a majority voted in favour of playing the matches, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed on Saturday. A pre-match press conference involving the Irish team was delayed on Saturday, while the players also missed their scheduled training session at the Nagyerdei Stadium. The decision came after uncertainty surrounded Monday’s first meeting between the two teams, which is scheduled to be played in Debrecen, Hungary. A group of players was understood to have met at the team hotel to discuss the situation.
The delay had led to speculation that the match could be called off, with reports suggesting that the players were considering issuing a statement. There was also speculation that one player had been unwilling to take part in the fixture. Following that match, Ireland midfielder Jason Knight had expressed his concerns about facing Israel.
The Republic of Ireland began their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday.
The Republic of Ireland will now face Israel in Debrecen on Monday, with the fixture forming part of their Nations League campaign. “It’s difficult. I don’t think the game should be going ahead, but it is going ahead.
Earlier reporting noted: Ireland is due to play Israel in Debrecen, Hungary in the first of those games Sunday, but the team’s press conference and training session Saturday were delayed by more than five hours as the players again held discussions among themselves in the team hotel over whether they should play.
We’ll have a deeper talk about it, and what that means, we’ll get our thoughts as a group and go from there,” Knight said to the BBC. Earlier reporting noted: “A player expressed their discomfort with fulfilling this fixture to the head coach and indicated their intent to withdraw from the squad,” David Courell, the CEO of the Football Association of Ireland, told journalists in the rescheduled press conference. “As you can understand, this new variable required time and deliberation for the rest of the squad to consider.”
Earlier reporting noted: Ireland players vote to go ahead with games against Israel, will wear black armbands Pressure to boycott upcoming Nations League games against Israel over that country’s actions in Gaza took its toll on the Ireland team Saturday when players talked for hours, voted on their participation, and one departed the squad.
