Ireland players vote to face Israel and plan black armband tribute

Republic of Ireland players have voted to go ahead with Sunday's Nations League match against Israel in Hungary and intend to wear black armbands to acknowledge lives lost in the Gaza conflict. BBC Sport reported that Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell confirmed the decision on Saturday, after a squad member withdrew and further discussions delayed the team's preparations.

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Courell said a substantial majority of the squad supported playing following around four hours of conversations, mainly among the players but also involving coaches and association officials. He confirmed that one player had expressed discomfort with the fixture and decided to withdraw. The FAI chief executive said the association respected the differing opinions presented during the discussions, which followed that player's decision on Saturday morning.

The proposed armbands are part of a wider response outlined by Courell. Players also intend to donate fees from both Israel matches and Thursday's fixture against Austria in Dublin to charity. They have requested relief from media duties for the rest of the international window and plan not to participate in some parts of the pre-match ceremony.

Saturday's disruption began when a scheduled morning news conference was postponed shortly before it was due to start. Training was also delayed while the squad met at its hotel. Courell eventually addressed reporters alongside manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and FAI director of football John Martin at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, where the first Israel match is scheduled to take place.

The fixtures have faced boycott calls linked to the Israel-Gaza war. Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and former international James McClean are among those supporting calls not to play, according to the BBC report. Ireland's nominal home meeting with Israel is due to be held in Serbia the following Sunday, with the Austria game taking place between the two encounters.

Hallgrimsson said the remaining players would train and acknowledged the pressure on the squad, with more conversations possible before the match. He said there was no course of action that would satisfy everyone and that the consequences of refusing to play were not known. Ireland enter the fixture after losing their opening Nations League match in Kosovo on Thursday.