Israel will wear black armbands against Ireland in Nations League match in Serbia
Israeli footballers will wear black armbands inscribed with 7.10 during Sunday's Nations League game against Ireland in Serbia to mark the 2023 attack anniversary.
Commemorative armbands in Bačka Topola
Israel's men's national football team will wear black armbands inscribed with the text "7.10" during Sunday's UEFA Nations League match against Ireland in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The game, scheduled to kick off at 20:45, takes place three days before the third anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks led by Hamas. European football governing body UEFA granted permission for the visual tribute following a direct request from Israeli football officials. The match is being held in Serbia because Israeli teams cannot host home fixtures on domestic soil due to regional security conditions.
The Israeli Football Association confirmed the governing body's authorization ahead of the fixture.
UEFA has approved the request of the Israeli Football Association for the national team to wear a black armband during Sunday's match in memory of those who were murdered during October 7.
Protests and player boycott in the opening leg
Sunday's meeting follows an opening leg held on 27 September in Debrecen, Hungary, where Ireland earned a 3-0 victory amid political demonstrations. During that game, Irish players wore black armbands to protest the war in Gaza and kept their heads bowed throughout the playing of the Israeli national anthem. The squads omitted the traditional pre-match pennant exchange, and captains did not shake hands before kickoff or after the final whistle.
- Hamas attack on Israel leaves 1,221 dead and over 250 taken hostage
- Ceasefire agreed in Gaza, though periodic deadly strikes persist
- Ireland defeats Israel 3-0 in Debrecen as Irish players stage protests
- Heimir Hallgrímsson press conference is cut short after media confrontations
- Israel faces Ireland in Bačka Topola wearing commemorative 7.10 armbands
Specific player protests accompanied the on-pitch action in Hungary. After scoring the final goal in the 3-0 win, Irish forward Jack Moylan took off his black armband and kissed it. Ireland backup goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu boycotted the Debrecen fixture and will also sit out Sunday's match in Serbia. Although segments of the public in Ireland advocated for a full boycott of the fixtures, the squad and national federation declined to withdraw completely.
Press conference disruption and security arrangements
Political friction extended into pre-match administrative duties on Saturday. A press briefing featuring Ireland's Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrímsson was cut short following confrontations between members of the Irish coaching staff and Israeli journalists. Ireland has a long history of public support for the Palestinian cause, which contributed to heightened scrutiny surrounding both Nations League fixtures. The encounter in Bačka Topola represents the conclusion of the two-game series between the teams during this international window.
Casualty figures and ongoing regional conflict
The sporting encounters take place against the backdrop of the conflict initiated on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,221 people in Israel and abducted more than 250 hostages. The subsequent military operations in the Gaza Strip have killed more than 74,000 people, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry that the United Nations evaluates as credible. Although a formal ceasefire took effect in October 2025, deadly strikes have continued to occur periodically across the territory as the two national teams prepare to play in Serbia.
