Ireland’s goalkeeper withdraws from Israel match, citing ‘atrocities in the region’
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from the squad ahead of the UEFA Nations League match against Israel.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Mr Bazunu wrote:
“I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle; therefore, I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel,” Mr Bazunu said.
“My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.
“It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region.”
The match is still scheduled to go ahead, but Irish players will reportedly refuse to shake hands before kick-off.
