FAI CONFIRMS ISRAEL FIXTURE WILL PROCEED AFTER SQUAD VOTE

The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed the Republic of Ireland's Nations League match against Israel will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday in Debrecen. The decision followed a vote among the squad after uncertainty over whether the fixture would be fulfilled. The FAI said players held differing views, but a majority backed playing the match. It said it "respects the views of all players involved" and acknowledged the sensitivity of the fixtures. The confirmation came after a press conference scheduled for Saturday was postponed.

Ireland players met privately at the team hotel on Saturday, missing a media briefing and training at the Nagyerdei Stadium. Reports said goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had refused to play against Israel, with other squad members reportedly considering joining him before the vote. Failure to fulfil the fixture could have led to warnings or financial penalties from Uefa. Amid calls for the match to be cancelled over Israel's war in Gaza, manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said the team were "playing against genocide." The Israel fixture follows a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday, Ireland's opening Nations League match.

Speaking after the Kosovo defeat, midfielder Jason Knight said: "I don't think the game obviously should be going ahead but it is going ahead," adding the squad would discuss it further. He said he was experienced and "thick-skinned" enough to cope, noting none of the squad had faced a comparable situation before. He said he would try to focus on the football. Uefa representatives had been unclear about the reason for the delay; players had indicated on Friday they intended to meet to agree a position. The fixture is due to kick off on Sunday in Debrecen.