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The Republic of Ireland gained attention for showing support for Palestine during a match against Israel in a UEFA Nations League B3 fixture at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary
Playing in a virtually empty stadium, the Irish squad wore black armbands as a mark of respect for victims of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Before kick-off, Ireland's players bowed their heads while the Israeli national anthem played.
Additionally, both teams also did not carry out the traditional pre-match handshakes, nor did they exchange team pennants.
Irish players bowing their heads during the Israeli anthem.
Image via UPires Futebol (YouTube)On the field, Ireland wasted little time establishing control
Striker Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 12th minute, celebrating by shaping his hands into a heart. Adam Idah doubled the advantage in the 15th minute, before Jack Moylan sealed the 3-0 victory in the 24th minute. After finding the net, Moylan kissed his shirt badge and tapped his black armband in a quiet gesture of solidarity.
The Irish team's actions drew sharp condemnation from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who accused Ireland of being on the "wrong side of history"
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Saar referenced a 1939 match where an Irish team performed a Nazi salute in Bremen, alongside Ireland's neutrality during the Second World War and then-prime minister Eamon de Valera's condolences following Adolf Hitler's death.
Leading up to the match, the fixture faced intense boycott calls back home in Dublin. The squad ultimately voted to play, though goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the selection, stating that participating in the match or the return fixture was wrong given the civilian casualties in Gaza. To discourage travel, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) allocated no tickets for away supporters, while Irish public broadcaster RTÉ aired the match without commentary.
Ireland has historically maintained strong sympathy for Palestine
Dublin formally recognised the State of Palestine in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, consistently calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israeli officials, meanwhile, continue to reject allegations that military actions in Gaza constitute genocide.
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