Gavin Bazunu has reportedly indicated he does not want to face Israel, with Lincoln City winger Chiedozie Ogbene among the Republic of Ireland players facing a difficult decision over the controversial fixtures.
Goalkeeper Bazunu communicated his position to FAI officials on Saturday morning, citing unease about participating in the games. Other players are understood to be considering their own positions, with Ireland’s preparations disrupted ahead of Sunday’s Nations League meeting in Hungary.
Ireland’s scheduled pre-match press conference and training session were both postponed as discussions continued at the team hotel in Debrecen. The squad had already held a meeting on Friday to discuss the fixtures, with a collective statement expected amid growing calls for a boycott.
For Imps supporters, the situation involves Ogbene, who has already spoken publicly about the pressure facing the players. Our on-loan winger stopped short of committing to a boycott when interviewed after Thursday’s 1-0 defeat against Kosovo, but made clear that the squad intended to discuss its response.
Asked about the feelings surrounding the Israel fixtures, Ogbene said:
“I’m aware. I’m aware of the feelings towards it, but I will say to you, it’s a complicated and very difficult task.
“And I just want to say, and I hope people don’t put the pressure on us to be answering difficult situations, because there’s people that can make those decisions, and you can’t rely on footballers to make that decision.
“So that’s my feeling on it. But as a group, we’re going to look at it, and we’re going to see what we’re going to do.”
The boycott calls centre on Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and the killing and suffering of Palestinian civilians. Irish Sport for Palestine’s “Stop The Game” campaign is urging Ireland not to fulfil the fixtures, with former national team manager Brian Kerr and former international James McClean among those supporting that position.
The war followed the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, when around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. More than 73,000 people have since been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
The FAI has previously sought Israel’s suspension from UEFA competitions, but the fixtures have remained on the calendar. That has left the players preparing for matches which have become the focus of a wider campaign over whether sporting relations with Israel should continue.
Ogbene’s international teammate Jason Knight went further in his own comments after the Kosovo defeat, stating that he did not believe the game should go ahead. However, he also stressed that the players needed to discuss their position collectively, describing an unfamiliar and uncomfortable situation.
Sunday’s match is scheduled for 7.45 pm in Debrecen, with the return fixture due to take place in Backa Topola, Serbia, on 4 October. At the time of the reports, no collective boycott had been announced, leaving Ogbene, former Imps Jack Moylan and their teammates’ next move unresolved.
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