The Israeli soccer team wore black armbands in remembrance of the victims of the October 7, 2023, terror attack during their match against Ireland in the Nations League on Sunday.
The armbands, which read "7.10", signified the date of the attack that left more than 1,000 Israelis dead. The Israel Football Association had announced earlier that UEFA had approved the armbands.
The match was played amid heightened tension between the two nations, with Ireland's soccer team having faced pressure to boycott matches against Israel over the country's response to the Hamas terror attack. Despite this pressure, Ireland has resisted match boycotts, fearing sanctions from UEFA.
Irish players again wore black armbands and refused to shake hands with their Israeli opponents before the match, mirroring their actions in the previous match between the two teams in September. The gesture was seen as a protest against the Israeli government's response to the terror attack.
Before the match, Israeli journalists clashed with Ireland's communications manager, Kieran Crowley, over a question about racism allegations against Irish soccer players. The press conference was cut short shortly after.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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