Photo via BBC Sport

No handshakes between Republic of Ireland and Israel

Prior to Sunday's controversial Uefa Nations League fixture in Hungary, the squads representing the Republic of Ireland and Israel declined to perform standard pre-match handshakes or swap pennants. Captains Dara O'Shea and Manor Solomon bypassed the traditional greeting ritual following respective national anthems, while Irish players wore black armbands to acknowledge lives lost in the Gaza conflict, an initiative confirmed by Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell.

The matchup itself followed months of intense debate and a pressure campaign urging an Irish boycott, though the squad ultimately decided to play after a team meeting in Debrecen, despite goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrawing from the roster beforehand due to personal objections.

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