Debrecen, Sep 28 (V7N)- Republic of Ireland players declined to shake hands with Israeli players during the pre-match ceremony before their UEFA Nations League fixture in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday.
As the Irish players entered the Nagyerdei Stadium before the ceremony, a small number of Israeli supporters reportedly chanted and jeered at them.
The Ireland players also wore black armbands during the match in memory of people killed in the Gaza conflict.
During the ceremony, the Irish players bowed their heads while the Israeli national anthem was played but did not participate in the customary handshake with the Israeli team.
The fixture has drawn attention amid criticism of UEFA's decision to place Ireland and Israel in the same Nations League Group B3.
The Irish players had previously faced calls from the "Stop the Game" campaign, organized by Irish Sport for Palestine, to boycott the fixture.
However, Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said the team's participation should not be interpreted as support for events in Gaza.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Hallgrimsson said the players wanted to make clear that taking part in the match did not mean they supported what was happening in Gaza.
The match took place against the backdrop of continuing political controversy surrounding Israel's military operations in Gaza and calls for greater scrutiny of Israel's participation in international sporting competitions.
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