Gavin Bazunu, Ireland’s second-choice goalkeeper, has opted out of Sunday’s international match against Israel, according to reports from the IrISH Independent. The announcement came as the Irish national team postponed its final pre-match training session, citing ongoing internal tensions.
Further reports indicate that at least five players have refused to participate in the upcoming fixture, with the squad expressing discomfort over the escalating off-field controversy. The dispute centers largely around criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which has sparked heated debate within the team in recent weeks.
A planned press conference scheduled prior to training has also been suspended indefinitely, with initial indications suggesting it may be rescheduled following the training session.
The Irish Independent reported that Irish coaching staff attempted to address the growing tension during a team meeting before departing for Hungary, where the match is set to take place, but were unable to reach a unified resolution.
The Irish Football Association now faces the possibility of additional disciplinary action from UEFA should it proceed with canceling both the training session and the press conference, the report noted.
Tensions between the two national teams first emerged last weekend when Ireland’s manager Heimir Hallgrimsson stated that his team was not engaging in politics, but rather standing against genocide. His remarks drew a sharp response from the Israeli Football Association, which accused Hallgrimsson of embodying ignorance, hypocrisy, and stupidity.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin publicly supported Hallgrimsson on Tuesday, calling the Israeli FA’s response “unacceptable” and asserting that Israel continues to deny widely recognized facts.
On Wednesday, Hallgrimsson acknowledged the prime minister’s backing while expressing concern about the heightened scrutiny, noting, “Maybe it’s not clever for me to take the attention like this,” and adding that the situation remains delicate for the team.
Captain Dara O’Shea addressed the media on Wednesday, confirming that the team will convene on Friday to deliberate on potential actions regarding the Israel matches. “We will come together on Friday and discuss it as a group,” O’Shea said.
“I don’t think we would be doing our job properly if we didn’t put our focus into the game (against Kosovo). It’s something that can’t be brushed over. The decision we come to as players will be taken as one,” he added.
Reuters contributed to this report.