{"id":630492,"date":"2026-09-28T22:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T22:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/630492\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T22:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T22:54:09","slug":"irish-national-soccer-team-wont-shake-hands-with-israel-after-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/630492\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish national soccer team won\u2019t shake hands with Israel after win"},"content":{"rendered":"

It only took 25 minutes of play for the Irish national soccer team to build a 3-0 lead over Israel in the countries\u2019 UEFA Nations League B match on Sunday. But there were decades of bad blood that preceded Ireland\u2019s shutout victory in a game dominated more by the geopolitics of the Gaza war than about sports. One soccer writer described<\/a> it as \u201carguably one of the most contentious football matches of this century.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the match, held in a mostly empty stadium in the neutral site of Debrecen, Hungary, the Irish players wore black armbands and bowed their heads in protest during the Israeli national anthem. There were no pre- or postgame handshakes, and one Irish player declined to participate altogether, citing his \u201cpersonal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s soccer federation did not reserve tickets for its fans, and the country\u2019s public broadcaster scaled back its coverage of the game. The teams are set to meet again on Oct. 4 in Serbia, this time with Ireland as the \u201chome\u201d team.<\/p>\n

Ireland and Israel have a long history of icy relations<\/a>. Ireland became the first member of the European Union to call for an independent Palestinian country in 1980, and was among the first of the Western European countries to recognize an official Palestinian state in 2024<\/a>. Israel closed its embassy in Dublin<\/a> in response. Irish Prime Minister Miche\u00e1l Martin has rejected claims<\/a> that his country\u2019s sharp criticism of Israel bleeds into antisemitism.<\/p>\n

In the months leading up to Sunday\u2019s match, Ireland\u2019s football governing body faced intense pressure to boycott the match. At a meeting in July, the Football Association of Ireland voted 75-32, with three abstentions, in favor of proceeding with the match, \u201cwhile acknowledging the strength of feeling regarding support for Palestine.\u201d The motion also noted that a boycott would come with UEFA sanctions, both financial and competitive: In League B matches, mid-tier nations seek to advance to the top division and boost their chances of qualifying for the quadrennial World Cup tournament. The Irish team itself also held a last-minute vote over whether to participate.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, more than 160 Irish athletes and sports figures signed an open letter calling on the national team to pull out of the match. The signatories included former Irish national team head coach Brian Kerr \u2014 who had led Ireland to a 2-2 draw against Israel in a 2005 match in Dublin that also took place amid protests.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Former Irish national team star Kevin Kilbane also authored a column in The Irish Times<\/a>, writing, \u201cIreland should not play Israel. Not in Dublin, not in Hungary, not in Serbia. Not when Israel is committing genocide.\u201d Israel denies the charge of genocide.<\/p>\n

There were also a number of public barbs exchanged between leaders of the two countries and their football associations.<\/p>\n

At a press conference last week, Irish coach Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson replied to questions about the match by saying, \u201cWe are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel; we are not playing with Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s football association responded to that comment with a post on X<\/a>, writing, \u201cWe have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the @IrelandFootball team coach. We\u2019re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity. We\u2019re playing against the coach who embodies them.\u201d<\/p>\n

That drew a rebuke from Martin, who told reporters, \u201cThey are unacceptable remarks and should be withdrawn.\u201d<\/p>\n

And on Sunday, the morning of the match, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar posted a lengthy tweet<\/a> referencing the 1939 Irish squad that gave a Nazi salute before a game against the German national team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost 90 years have passed. Ireland\u2019s unique talent for finding itself on the wrong side of history remains intact,\u201d Sa\u2019ar wrote. \u201cBack then, they gave the Nazi salute. This time, they stand on the side of Palestinian terrorism. Above the black armbands the Irish players will wear tonight flies the black flag of jihadism.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the match, Israeli captain Manor Solomon said the Irish players who bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem \u201cdon\u2019t interest me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a country 10 times better than theirs, stronger, an amazing country with amazing people,\u201d said Solomon, who plays in the English Championship league. \u201cWe are proud to wear the team shirt and to be Israelis. We are proud of our state and of our soldiers. [The Irish] can play all their tricks. We are Israelis and love the country. And that will always be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

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