Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu boycotted the squad’s Uefa Nations League fixture against Israel on Sunday to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Bazunu took the decision to sit out the game in Hungary after a majority of players reportedly voted to play, despite intense pressure inside Ireland for them to respect calls for a sporting boycott against the apartheid state.

“My decision is based purely on my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong,” Bazunu wrote on Instagram. “It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israeli people or the Jewish community, but against the atrocities in the region.

“There are a few times where you get a chance in life to stand up for something bigger, and I strongly believe that this is one of them.”

The remaining players on the squad did not shake hands with members of Israel’s team or exchange pennants, as part of changes to the pre-match ceremony announced in advance. Ireland beat Israel 3-0.

Winger James McClean, who has previously played on the Republic of Ireland squad, said ahead of the match that the team was “forever going to be tarred for not doing the right thing” unless they boycotted.

“I’ve seen some of the interviews saying, ‘We’re uncomfortable with it’ and, ‘It’s not been easy for us,’” he said. “Well then, don’t play the game.”

The push to boycott matches against Israel has been led by Stop the Game, an Irish campaign made of “football supporters, players, coaches and administrators opposed to sportswashing genocide”.

Irish pubs have also lent their support to the campaign, with around 140 refusing to show Sunday’s game, according to a tally by the owner of Peadar Browns pub in Dublin.

Israel has killed an estimated 567 Palestinian footballers since the start of the genocide in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association.

Bazunu has reportedly faced backlash from his own teammates for refusing to play. “Bazunu has been left brutally isolated,” sports reporter Gavin Cooney wrote in the Irish Times.

Bazunu said in his statement that his decision was “not taken lightly”, adding: “I am a man of strong faith, and try my best to be a person of character and principle, therefore I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel.”

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