The Republic of Ireland manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson, has claimed “a lot of lies” were told over keeper Gavin Bazunu’s decision to withdraw from the Nations League game against Israel last weekend, and he does not anticipate any problems with Sunday’s second match against them going ahead. Ireland are one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s war in Gaza, and protests calling for the team to boycott the fixture prompted Bazunu to pull out of both games between the two countries. Last Sunday’s match, which Ireland won 3-0, went ahead after a majority of their squad voted to play on the eve of the away fixture in Hungary.
Media reports indicated a fractured squad after the meeting and vote, and that Bazunu had been insulted by teammates over his decision. The keeper is available for Thursday’s home game with Austria, but will not take part in Sunday’s rematch with Israel, which the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has moved to Serbia behind closed doors. Amazing, I think it shows his character, as well, to be with us.
So I want to give him praise for that. I want to give the players praise for how welcome they have been with him,” he added. He’s a part of this group and I think that shows how strong the bond is between these players that even a thing like this is not breaking us.” Ireland midfielder Finn Azaz has also been the centre of attention given his deep Israeli heritage, and remained on the bench for the win over Israel.
Hallgrimsson was asked if Azaz would be involved in Sunday’s fixture. He probably is one of the people I admire the most in how he conducted himself in all of this.” Thursday’s game against Austria in Dublin is expected to bring further protests over Ireland playing Israel. It has been really, really tough, but I surely think that in time we will have seen that we took more right decisions than wrong ones.”
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