Ireland delay news conference

Republic of Ireland postponed their scheduled news conference on September twenty-sixth, hours before facing Israel in a Nations League match in Debrecen, Hungary on September twenty-seventh at nineteen forty-five BST.

Boycott campaign gains momentum

The Irish Sport for Palestine pressure group has organised a Stop The Game campaign calling on the team to withdraw. Former manager Brian Kerr and ex-international James McClean have backed the boycott calls over the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

Players locked in meeting

Players met at the team hotel with unconfirmed reports that goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had withdrawn from the fixture and several others were considering their positions. The meeting delayed both the news conference and training.

Mixed views from squad

After Thursday's one nil defeat by Kosovo, midfielder Jason Knight said he did not think the game should go ahead. Winger Chiedozie Ogbene urged the public not to put pressure on the players regarding their approach to the scheduled game.

“I didn't think the game should be going ahead”

Conference rescheduled for afternoon

Republic of Ireland confirmed their news conference would now take place at fourteen thirty BST at the team hotel instead of the stadium. Players emerged from their meeting around thirteen hundred BST and agreed to travel back to the stadium for training at fourteen forty-five BST.

Return fixture set for Serbia

The return fixture against Israel is scheduled for October fourth in Backa Topola, Serbia. A team meeting took place on Friday for players to air their views on both games, with some reports of at least one player wishing to withdraw from the squad.