The Republic of Ireland and Israel are playing a Nations League match behind closed doors in Serbia due to security concerns related to tensions over the Gaza conflict. Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson previously commented that his team would be “playing against genocide,” leading goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to withdraw from the squad again, citing personal beliefs about the conflict. The game is taking place without spectators at the TSC Arena in Serbia, and UEFA will manage post-match press conferences for both teams to avoid further controversy.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, during a pre-match news conference for the Republic of Ireland's UEFA Nations League match against Israel in Backa Topola, Serbia, tensions escalated when an Israeli journalist asked questions unrelated to football. The journalist inquired about alleged racist comments made by Irish players and the Flydubai flight incident involving a co-pilot attempting a terrorist act. This prompted Kieran Crowley, communications manager for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), to intervene and deny the allegations, stating they were "completely untrue." The confrontational tone led the press conference to abruptly end.
The match was moved to Serbia due to security concerns in Ireland and follows the contentious first game where Irish players wore black armbands and did not shake hands with their Israeli counterparts. Previously, some Irish players had voted on whether to play the match amidst protests against Israel's actions in Gaza. The FAI faced calls for a boycott but resisted, fearing potential UEFA sanctions if they canceled.
The incident highlights ongoing political tensions between Ireland and Israel over the conflict in Gaza, with supporters of both sides expressing strong views about the games' implications.
Written for “Ireland vs Israel Nations League Cont…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
The Republic of Ireland and Israel lock horns once more this evening amid tensions between the two countries relating to the conflict in Gaza.
asserted
Republic → lock → Gaza
A sense of unease began to settle in when Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson made strong comments in the build-up to the first match between the pair in the Nations League at the beginning of the international break.
asserted
Hallgrimsson → begin → break
The Icelandic boss remarked that his side would be “playing against genocide” before the two met in Debrecen, Hungary, two weeks ago - a match that Ireland won 3-0.
asserted
Ireland → remark → that
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu also withdrew from the Ireland squad over his beliefs concerns about the conflict in Palestine, and the Israeli FA took aim at Hallgrimsson’s comments in a fiery response on social media thereafter.
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FA → withdraw → media
This match will take place behind closed doors in Serbia with the Irish FA moving the affair to a neutral location as a result of security concerns.
asserted
FA → take → concerns
Bazunu, the Bolton shot-stopper, has again withdrawn from the squad in a refusal to face Israel, while Hallgrimsson’s press conference was halted abruptly.
asserted
conference → withdraw → Israel
Behind closed doors
A reminder that today’s game is behind closed doors, so there is not a spectator in sight at the TSC Arena in Serbia, creating an eerie atmosphere inside the 4,500 capacity venue.
Kick off
The game is underway.
asserted
game → close → venue
No handshakes, heads bowed again from the Irish players during the Israeli anthem.
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heads → bow → anthem
UEFA to manage post-match media
UEFA officials will manage both post-match press conferences for both Ireland and Israel in Serbia.
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officials → manage → Serbia
It is believed that neither of the Israeli journalists who disrupted the pre-match briefings will be present at the press conferences this evening.
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who → believe → conferences
Solomon's statement
Israel captain Manor Solomon was enraged with the Ireland players after the first game in Hungary.
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Solomon → enrage → Hungary
"They don't interest me,” the West Ham winger said.
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winger → interest → me
“We have a country ten times better than theirs, stronger, an amazing country with amazing people.
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We → have → people
We are proud to wear the team shirt and to be Israelis.
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We → wear → shirt
They can play all their tricks.
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They → play → tricks
"If I say what I think of them, I'd likely be suspended for a few matches...
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I → say → matches
Obviously they hate us.
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they → hate → us
We don't like them."
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We → like → them
The press conference
Hallgrimsson’s pre-match press conference was certainly a tension-heightener, when it was stopped abruptly yesterday.
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it → stop → ?
The Icelandic boss was asked by an Israeli reporter for his thoughts on an incident earlier in the week where an airline passenger reportedly tried to breach the cockpit of a FlyDubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
uncertain
passenger → ask → Aviv
Hallgrimsson refused to engage in non-footballing geopolitical safety questions.
asserted
Hallgrimsson → refuse → questions
A second reporter then counter-alleged that it was the Irish players who had hurled racist slurs at Israeli players on the pitch during the match in Hungary.
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who → counter → Hungary
FAI communications director Kieran Crowley stepped in immediately, declaring the accusation "completely untrue" and "a lie".
asserted
accusation → step → ?
When the journalist refused to return the floor microphone to moderators and continued heckling, Crowley signaled an abrupt end to the briefing, prompting Hallgrimsson to walk out.
Hallgrimsson issues Ireland update
Heimir Hallgrimsson confirms that Dara O’Shea misses out, with Jimmy Dunne replacing him.
Finn Azaz is on the bench due to fitness concerns.
asserted
Azaz → refuse → concerns
Israel to wear black armbands
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Israel → wear → armbands
The Israeli FA confirmed ahead of this match that UEFA had accepted their request to sport black armbands for this match, to commemorate those lost in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
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UEFA → confirm → October
No O'Shea for Ireland
Dara O’Shea does not feature in the Irish squad tonight, but that’s not a political decision.
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that → feature → squad
He pulled out of the squad with his wife set to give birth ahead of this game.
asserted
wife → pull → game
The Aporia
