Ireland WILL play Israel on Sunday: Manager confirms rivals will meet again after goalkeeper refused to play amid 'Stop The Game' protest

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has confirmed their second Nations League match against Israel will go ahead this weekend despite calls for a boycott.

Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in their first fixture in Hungary on Sunday night, with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu having pulled out of the highly-charged match on ethical grounds. A petition to stop the game going ahead had been signed by almost 20,000.

Hundreds of pubs in Ireland refused to show the first encounter and have vowed to do so again for Sunday's game, while there were protests outside the team hotel in Dublin.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's match against Austria in Dublin, Hallgrimsson confirmed his side will face Israel again this Sunday.

'The FAI [Football Association of Ireland] has said we are playing both games,' Hallgrimsson said.

'That was our intention when we came into the camp and it is still our intention.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has confirmed their second Nations League match with Israel will go ahead this weekend

The Republic of Ireland team snubbed the Israeli national anthem before their Nations League clash on Sunday

'We are trying to focus on the football. It is already decided we will fulfil the games.

'It's been tough, especially on the players. It's been really tough. Like all of this camp we almost take it day by day. That is already decided that we are going to fulfil the games.'

When asked if players had informed him of another meeting to decide whether to play, Hallgrimsson said 'No, they haven't.'

A majority of players, described as 'significant' by the Football Association of Ireland, ultimately elected to fulfil their 'away' clash.

A 'Stop The Game' campaign – organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine has called for fans to gather ahead of the match with Austria to voice opposition to Sunday's match with Israel.

Ahead of the first match, Ireland captain Dara O'Shea did not shake hands with Israel's skipper Manor Solomon at the coin toss, and Ireland wore black armbands 'in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict'.

The Ireland players also snubbed the Israeli national anthem by pointedly looking at the ground while it played.

Ireland's substitutes and staff also looked at the floor during Israel's anthem, with the squad having voted to play the match

Hallgrimsson had previously said his team are 'playing against genocide' amid Israel's attacks on Palestine, where more than 70,000 people have been killed since the war in Gaza began, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

The second match against Israel will take place behind closed doors in Serbia.

Bazunu was the only member of the squad to officially make himself unavailable for selection for the Israel matches, but the Bolton goalkeeper chose to remain with the team and be with them for the Austria match.

He will then be replaced in the squad by Josh Keeley for the second fixture with Israel.

Hallgrimsson criticised 'lies' that had been reported concerning Bazunu's withdrawal from the first fixture and insisted there is a 'strong bond' in his squad.

'Gavin is a great lad. I've always had a good relationship with him and it's probably more tough for him than the other players, but they have really welcomed him,' said Hallgrimsson.

'There's been a lot of lies said around all of this, but we welcome him back and he's taken part, amazing.

'I think it shows his character, as well, to be with us, so I want to give him praise for that. I want to give the players praise for how welcome they have been with him.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad due to Israel's actions in Gaza

'Life goes on. He is a part of this group and I think that shows how strong the bond is between these players that even a thing like this is not breaking us.'

Bazunu came forward on Saturday morning to outline his stance, which he later confirmed in a statement on Instagram. That triggered a lengthy team meeting that resulted in the vote to proceed with the first Israel clash.

The Bolton Wanderers star justified his decision by saying: 'I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle’.

'My decision is based purely upon my belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.

'It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region.

'There are few times when you get a chance in life to stand for something bigger and I strongly believe that this is one of them.'

Hallgrimsson also praised Finn Azaz, who has Israeli heritage and was an unused substitute in the first match between the teams.

'He's been one of the persons I admire the most in how he conducted himself in all of this,' said Hallgrimsson.

Hallgrimsson praised Finn Azaz, who has Israeli heritage, for his conduct within the Ireland camp

'It is about being a member of a team, so you need to listen to all opinions. To do your thing, to do your work with grace and understanding of all opinions.

'Talking about walking the extra mile to being a part of a national team, I don't have words to explain to you and you wouldn't understand because inside camp he has so much respect within this group of players.'

After Sunday's game, Israel captain Solomon hit out at his Irish opponents, saying: 'They said nonsense [to us] during the game, I don't want to talk about them.

'If I say what I think about them, I'll probably be banned for a few games so I don't want to say. Of course they hate us and we don't like them.

'I'm already looking forward to the next game against them, it's going to be completely different. What they did with the anthem? I'm not interested in them, we have a country that is ten times better than theirs, stronger, an amazing country with amazing people. [The Irish] can play all their tricks. We are Israelis and love the country. And that will always be the case.'

The episode is the latest sign of growing hostility towards Israel and comes weeks after 12 countries including the UK, France and Canada announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The match came against a backdrop of ongoing and increasingly volatile disagreement between the two countries about Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

In May 2024, Ireland officially recognised a Palestinian state – alongside Spain and Norway – and later that year joined South Africa's Gaza genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

The country has also refused to take part in Eurovision since 2026 due to Israel's ongoing participation in the song contest and was the first EU nation to boycott goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

In June, the country issued travel bans on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage.

Troy Parrott celebrates with a heart gesture after scoring against Israel in the 3-0 win

While a ceasefire that took effect last October 10 has halted the heaviest fighting, Israeli strikes have continued in what the military has said are responses to threats or attacks.

Since the ceasefire, 1,145 Palestinians have been killed, said the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government.

Meanwhile, seven Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.

Next steps in the US-brokered ceasefire remain largely stalled.

Israeli forces now control over half of the territory, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they will not withdraw until Hamas disarms.

On September 8, the UK announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, following reports of some 1,400 attacks by Israeli settlers this year.