Kosovo, Pristina - 23 September 2026; Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu during the Republic of Ireland Training Session at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo. (Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Since February the countdown has been on to UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel.
The Nations League is virtually pointless in the football calendar but there are far, far bigger issues in the world than three points on the pitch.
The Irish people have been long standing supporters of the people in Palestine.
They know full well the reality of a hostile, aggressive neighbour that wants to impose their will and version of democracy. Through armed aggression with the indigenous population treated with absolute contempt.
Campaigners have been at work at all levels to Stop The Game. With others at work to have it played, unfortunately.
As we witnessed through the World Cup Finals sport and politics are intertwined. They cannot be separated.
Politicians and those shady figures in the background use sport to push their politics.
The Israeli FA push that excuse at every opportunity.
The Asian and African confederations won’t play football with Israel.
In 1980 UEFA invited Israel to play in their World Cup qualifiers, being drawn in the same group as Scotland.
In 1991 UEFA invited Israeli clubs to play in their their club competitions.
Ireland played Israel in three friendlies during the eighties. They played each other in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers with some protests taking place.
In September 2025 a United Nations Commission of Inquiry declared Israel’s oppression of Gaza as a Genocide.
For most European countries, such as Austria the game must go on. It is all showbiz.
The FAI take that approach as well. They think that wearing black armbands is a form of protest.
That gesture has as much impact as the pointless Show Racism The Red Card ‘campaign’ that Scottish football indulges in once a season.
BAZUNU RISES ABOVE FOOTBALL ISSUES
There has been suggestions of unrest among Irish players about the matches scheduled today and next Sunday.
But in a media trained age players are barely able to express an opinion on tactics never mind world politics or a Genocide.
The FAI have managed to call things badly wrong at every stage since the draw was made in February.
They have put corporate UEFA ahead of their grass roots support, the fans that will do anything to back their Boys in Green.
This week the FAI have got it wrong at every stage.
On Friday player meetings were held.
Bazunu, the second choice goalkeeper stood up. Made his opinions known as the issues with today’s fixture were elevated to a higher level.
Suddenly the goalkeeper at Bolton is in the spotlight. More as a news story than sport.
Extraordinary this from Brian Kerr:
– Spoken with Gavin Bazunu who’s feeling quite low and shunned by players/FAI
– Suggested to him it’d be better he left the squad for remainder of this window
– Wasn’t told about meeting this morning
– Wasn’t there for vote this morning (his…— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) September 26, 2026
Discussing the decision by Bizunu on Virgin TV on Saturday night Kerr said:
I think it’s a very legitimate decision for him to take, I think it’s a heroic decision.
But I have been in touch with him this evening and he is feeling quite low and shunned by some of the players and by the FAI.
And it has been suggested to him that it would be better if he left the squad, which I think is disgraceful, because they have a match against Austria to play and why shouldn’t he be involved in that game.
He wasn’t, by the way, at the meeting earlier, he wasn’t told about the meeting or involved in the meeting this morning. So he wasn’t involved in the vote.
They presumed they knew his vote, so they didn’t bring him into discussions, which sounds amazing to me. Sad.
MUCH MORE THAN A GAME, MORE THAN 90 MINUTES, MORE THAN THREE POINTS
The FAI may claim that they have to comply with UEFA regulations.
They do so against strong opposition from ordinary people in Ireland and from supporters of League of Ireland clubs and the international team.
There will be no way back for the current FAI executives.
Irish pubs and boycotting the match, no one wants associated with it.
RTE are obliged to show it as part of their broadcasting deal. There will be no commentary, no preview, no analysis and absolutely no advertising.
This doesn’t end today in Debrecen.
On Thursday the FAI expect fans to buy tickets and engage with a Nations League match against Austria. The on Sunday they stage the home match against Israel in Serbia.
Kerr and Bazunu know the choices to make in life.
While getting a pat on the back from UEFA the FAI has forfeited the support of the vast majority of Irish people and football fans.
View this post on Instagram
Brian Kerr: The people of Gaza are living in rat-infested tents or being exterminated by the IDF – that’s lose-lose! ???
A passionate speech from the former Ireland boss saying it as it is. #StopTheGamepic.twitter.com/AoVyJrsOlQ
— Ireland Radar (@IrelandRadar) September 26, 2026
Disgusting and inaccurate anti-semitism propaganda under disguise.
Very brave – and correct – of Bazunu.
He would have been painfully aware of the threats and smears
coming his way for not participating.
But, the bottom line is that the FAI has a duty of care to its players,
and no player should have been exposed in this way in the first place.
Don’t know all the in’s and out’s as don’t watch the news but I’m definitely with Hoops supporters and Ireland fans !
Genocide is genocide no matter who commits it. It is not anti-semitic to criticise it. Are the Jews in New Yor anti-semitic when they criticise the Israeli Government? Genocide can not be sportwashed or Euovision washed. Playing against Israel gives an illusion of normality to a government actively engaged in ethnic clensing. Those Irish players who shunned Gavin Bazunu should be named and shamed. They denied his stance and his vote in their cowardly ballot.