Gavin Bazunu said he will not play in the Republic of Ireland's fixtures against Israel, adding a personal and political layer to a Nations League evening that had already carried plenty of uncertainty.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said representing his country means everything to him, while stressing that he has the utmost respect for his teammates, the manager, the staff and the Irish people. But he also said he had reached a decision he had not taken lightly and that, as a man of strong faith and principle, he felt it would be wrong to take part in the upcoming fixtures against Israel.
Bazunu said his stance was based on his belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong. He also said his position was not against the Israeli people or the Jewish community, but against the atrocities in the region. He added that there are times in life when a person gets a chance to stand up for something bigger, and he believes this is one of them.
Israel Vs Ireland went ahead after uncertainty
The match itself came after a day of intrigue over whether Israel v Republic of Ireland would be played at all. On the evening of the game, Israel and Ireland named their listed starting lineups, with kickoff set for 7.45pm BST.
The fixture was one of three big games in live Nations League coverage, and it arrived in a broader international window that had already included Wales's 2-0 loss to Denmark in Copenhagen. Earlier in the week, Wales had also lost 1-0 to Portugal on Thursday.
What the evening looked like
As the Israel and Ireland lineups were confirmed, the focus shifted from whether the game would happen to how the night would unfold on the pitch. The live coverage also carried the earlier report on Wales's defeat, but Bazunu's statement remained one of the key talking points around Israel Vs Ireland.
For Republic of Ireland, the practical impact is straightforward: one of the squad's goalkeepers has made clear he will not be involved in these fixtures. For the match itself, the bigger story was that the game moved forward after a day of doubt, with the teams finally named and the Nations League schedule continuing as planned.
