Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from the national team ahead of the country’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, saying his personal beliefs made it wrong for him to participate in the matches.
Bazunu, who was named in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s 26-man Ireland squad earlier this month, announced his decision in a statement published on social media on Saturday. The Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper said representing Ireland remains extremely important to him but that he had reached a decision he had not taken lightly.
“Representing my country means everything to me,” Bazunu said, while expressing his respect for his teammates, the manager, his coaching staff and the Irish people.
He said his decision was based on his personal belief that “the killing of innocent people is wrong” and stressed that his position was not directed against Israeli people or the Jewish community.
Bazunu described his decision as a matter of personal faith, character and principle, saying he believed there were moments when individuals had an opportunity to stand up for something bigger than themselves.
The goalkeeper’s announcement came after growing uncertainty within the Ireland camp over the upcoming fixtures against Israel. Ireland’s scheduled pre-match press conference and training session in Debrecen were delayed on Saturday as players held discussions about the situation.
The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to face Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, 27 September, in Israel’s designated home fixture. The return meeting, which was originally scheduled for Dublin, has been moved to Bačka Topola in Serbia and will be played behind closed doors.
Despite Bazunu’s withdrawal, Ireland will proceed with the fixture. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell confirmed that the association had consulted the players after discussions within the squad. The FAI said the players held different views but that a significant majority supported fulfilling the scheduled fixtures.
“The Association made this decision following consultation with the Republic of Ireland players who shared different views and a majority expressed that the fixtures should be played,” the FAI said.
The association added that it respected the different views expressed by the players and recognised the sensitivity surrounding the fixtures.
Ireland captain Dara O’Shea had already indicated before the Kosovo match on Thursday that the squad would discuss the issue collectively and that individual players’ views would be respected. O’Shea said the players understood that UEFA and the relevant football authorities had decided the fixtures would take place.
The FAI had previously explained why the October fixture was being moved away from Dublin. In June, the association said UEFA had approved its request to stage the match at a neutral venue and behind closed doors, citing operational challenges and security considerations surrounding the fixture.
The FAI also stated that Ireland had been drawn into Nations League Group B3 alongside Austria, Israel and Kosovo and that refusing to fulfil a scheduled fixture could result in the match being forfeited, with further UEFA disciplinary consequences potentially following.
Bazunu’s withdrawal therefore represents an individual decision rather than an Ireland team boycott. The remaining squad members will continue with the Nations League campaign, while the goalkeeper will not participate in the upcoming matches against Israel.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper was included in Hallgrímsson’s original squad for the September and October Nations League fixtures, alongside Caoimhin Kelleher and Max O’Leary as Ireland’s three goalkeeping options.
The development adds another significant dimension to an already sensitive set of fixtures, but Bazunu’s stated position remains personal: he has chosen not to participate because of his own beliefs concerning the conflict and the loss of civilian life, while explicitly distinguishing his position from opposition to Israeli people or the Jewish community.
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