Ireland refuse handshake with Israel and don armbands in Nations League tie
Republic of Ireland football players wore black armbands and refused to shake hands with Israeli players during a UEFA Nations League match. This follows similar protests by the team regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the intersection of international geopolitics and professional sports, highlighting how athletes use their platform for political expression.
Republic of Ireland football players again wear black armbands and refuse handshakes with Israel in UEFA Nations League.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Irish players bow their heads during the Israeli national anthem before the UEFA Nations League match [Darko Vojinovic/AP] By Kevin Hand and The Associated Press Published On 4 Oct 2026 4 Oct 2026 Ireland players again wore black armbands in recognition of Palestinians killed in Gaza and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem before the teams’ second UEFA Nations League football match on Sunday.
The League 3 Group B match ended in a 1-1 draw and, despite being played behind closed doors and on neutral ground, was once again played out in a confrontational manner.
Also covering this story
9 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Ireland press conference ahead of Israel game in Nations League cut short
Ireland vs Israel - Predicted lineup and team news
Republic of Ireland's Nations League media call ends in chaos after question by Israeli journalist about flydubai
Ireland v Israel live updates: Kelleher to captain Ireland as Hallgrímsson makes four changes
Israel 'tried to intimidate' Irish amid spitting row - Hallgrimsson
Israeli soccer team to wear black armbands against Ireland
Israeli soccer players wear armbands to remember terror attack victims as Irish opponents pull stunt again
Ireland vs Israel predictions: 10-1 Bet Builder tip, team news and odds
Modric ‘ashamed’ after 7-0 defeat by England; Republic of Ireland v Israel tensions build - matchday live
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in