# Ireland delay news conference before Israel game

> Republic of Ireland postpone media briefing hours before Nations League fixture as players meet over boycott calls.
- Title: Ireland delay news conference before Israel game · BBC Sport
- Summary: Republic of Ireland postpone media briefing hours before Nations League fixture as players meet over boycott calls. Republic of Ireland delayed their news…
- Keywords: republic of ireland, israel, nations league, debrecen, heimir hallgrimsson, boycott, gaza war, football, news, world, Ireland, delay
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c962jjl18g3ro
- Published: 2026-09-26T10:44:37.657+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: republic of ireland, israel, nations league, debrecen, heimir hallgrimsson, boycott, gaza war, football, news, world
## 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Players met at the team hotel with unconfirmed reports that goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had withdrawn from the fixture and several others were considering their positions.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.
## Key takeaway

Republic of Ireland delayed their news conference and training on September twenty-sixth as players met to discuss whether to play Israel in a Nations League match amid calls to boycott over the Gaza war.