Backa Topola:Ireland players wore black armbands and bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem in protest of Israel's actions in Gaza, as the two teams faced off in a tense Nations League soccer match that ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Israeli players also donned black armbands to honor those killed in the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel captain Dor Peretz had the date '7.10' inscribed on his armband.
The match, originally scheduled in Dublin, was moved to a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia, due to operational reasons and was played without spectators. This decision came after significant calls to boycott the fixture, fueled by an FAI motion urging UEFA to ban Israel from competitions.
Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, who captained the team in the absence of Dara O'Shea, did not shake hands with Peretz before the match, continuing the gesture first made by O'Shea in a previous encounter.
Troy Parrott scored for Ireland from the penalty spot after Peretz fouled Jimmy Dunne in the 39th minute. Peretz equalized shortly after halftime. The game saw rising tensions, with Israel nearly taking the lead when substitutes Omri Gandelman and Oscar Gloukh hit the post.
The build-up to the match was marked by protests and confrontations. Many Irish sportspeople and public figures expressed solidarity with Palestinians, urging the team to boycott. Despite facing pressure, including protests outside their hotel in Dublin, the Irish players decided to play to avoid potential UEFA sanctions, as Ireland is set to co-host the 2028 European Championship.
Protests also interrupted Ireland's previous match against Austria, and tensions were further inflamed by allegations of offensive language, which were denied by the Irish camp. Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ provided limited coverage of the matches, reflecting the contentious nature of the fixtures.