Israel v Ireland cast as highly contentious amid boycott calls and Bazunu refusal | OneFootball

Israel face Ireland in the Nations League on Sunday at 20:45, with the tie to be played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen.

According to L'Équipe, coverage in Ireland and Britain has cast the game as a flashpoint, with calls for a boycott from civil society and politicians and appeals to government to stop it.

On Saturday the Republic squad wrestled with whether to play. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu said he would not be on the teamsheet, while team-mates voted to take the field.

Commentary castigated the FAI’s leadership and suggested Bazunu was left isolated, while profiles presented him as the face of the boycott debate before the day’s events were set out.

Explainers sought historical context, describing Ireland as widely viewed as strongly pro-Palestinian and recalling that in 1980 Ireland was the first EU member to call for a Palestinian state. Other pieces reflected views from around Israel’s camp, who felt their situation and the role of Hamas were not fully understood in Ireland.

Broadcaster and lawyer Brenda Power criticised what she considered Irish hypocrisy, pointing to the absence of protest when Ireland’s cricketers played in Afghanistan and to the severe oppression of women there.

Source: L'Équipe

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