Israel Wears Armbands to Honor Attack Victims; Ireland Protest Continues
UEFA approved Israel's tribute, while Irish players again refused handshakes and wore armbands in protest.
Israeli soccer players wore black armbands bearing "7.10" to commemorate the victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack during a UEFA Nations League match against Ireland. The Israel Football Association announced that UEFA had approved the armbands prior to the game.
The matches between Israel and Ireland have been marked by heightened tensions. Ireland's soccer team has faced pressure to boycott games against Israel due to the country's response to the Oct. 7 attacks. The Irish Football Association has supported motions to bar Israel from international competitions, but has resisted match boycotts due to fear of sanctions from UEFA.
During a previous match between Ireland and Israel in September, Irish players reportedly refused to shake hands with their Israeli counterparts and also wore black armbands in protest. In the latest encounter, Irish players again declined to shake hands with the Israeli team and wore their own black armbands.
Prior to the match, an exchange occurred between Israeli journalists and Ireland soccer’s communications manager, Kieran Crowley. Crowley attempted to restrict a pre-match press conference to soccer-related questions. The situation escalated when Crowley responded forcefully to a question regarding alleged racism against Irish soccer players, stating, "That’s completely untrue." The press conference concluded shortly after this exchange.