Ireland postpone training and news conference before Israel fixture

The Republic of Ireland postponed their training session and pre-match news conference on Saturday ahead of the Nations League meeting with Israel in Hungary, BBC Sport reported. The disruption came amid pressure on Ireland to boycott the fixtures over the war in Gaza.

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Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player had been due to address reporters at 09:15 BST before training. A UEFA official initially told the waiting media that the briefing would instead follow the session, at approximately 11:30 BST. The official subsequently announced that training had also been postponed, leaving both parts of the morning programme without a settled schedule.

The BBC reported that the news conference was being moved from the stadium to Ireland’s team hotel. Players had met on Friday to discuss the Israel matches and were expected to issue a statement at Saturday’s briefing.

The pressure on the team predates Saturday’s disruption. Associated Press reported earlier this week that UEFA had rejected a Football Association of Ireland request to suspend the Israel Football Association over Israel’s military action in Gaza. Campaigners gathered outside the Irish team’s Dublin hotel on Monday evening, and more than 160 Irish sportspeople signed an open letter urging the FAI to reconsider playing the matches. The letter was issued by Irish Sport for Palestine, whose campaign has sought to persuade the association to withdraw from the fixtures.

Ireland captain Dara O’Shea had previously said the squad would fulfil the games and represent their country, according to The Irish Times’ report published on Thursday. That report said any decision about a separate collective protest would be taken after the Kosovo match. RTÉ separately reported that O’Shea described the preparations as unusual and emphasised that the decision to proceed with the Israel fixtures was not down to the players. He also acknowledged the feelings surrounding the games and the situation facing the squad.

Sunday’s match is scheduled for Debrecen, with the return fixture in Backa Topola, Serbia, on 4 October. The BBC did not announce a match cancellation.