Hallgrimsson regrets wording of Gaza comments as Ireland confirm Israel fixture

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has said he regrets the wording of earlier comments about Gaza, while maintaining that taking part in matches against Israel does not signal support for what is happening there. The Guardian reported his remarks after Ireland's players voted to proceed with Sunday's fixture in Hungary.

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Hallgrimsson had earlier described his team as playing against genocide. Addressing that language again, he said the word had been wrong for him to use and explained that his intention was to make clear that participation did not amount to acceptance of events in Gaza. He also said players who chose to take part should not be understood as endorsing them.

The clarification came after prolonged discussions disrupted Ireland's preparations on Saturday. According to the Guardian, training was delayed by five hours while the squad considered whether to play. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said a significant majority supported fulfilling the fixture following roughly four hours of talks, largely between players but also involving coaching staff and association officials.

Ireland's decision to proceed was accompanied by planned changes to the pre-match ceremony. Courell said players would wear black armbands to recognise lives lost in the conflict and would not take part in the handshake or exchange of pennants. Those measures were agreed as a way of expressing the squad's unease about the fixture, rather than withdrawing from it.

Bolton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu took a different course and withdrew. In an Instagram statement reported by the Guardian, he said his decision reflected his faith and personal principles, while expressing respect for his teammates and the coaching staff. He stressed that his objection concerned the killing of innocent people and was not directed at Israelis or the Jewish community.

Israel's team leadership welcomed Ireland's vote in a statement at its own news conference, arguing that football and politics should remain separate. Israeli officials said their team would participate in all pre-match formalities. Head coach Ran Ben-Shimon also said he intended to shake hands with Hallgrimsson, despite Ireland's announced decision not to join the customary handshake.