Republic of Ireland players intend to wear black armbands "in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict" for Sunday's Nations League game against Israel in Hungary, after confirming they will go ahead with the fixture. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive David Courell confirmed one player has withdrawn from the squad before the match. But he added that a vote among the squad produced a "significant majority" in favour of playing.
As well as the intention to wear black armbands for Sunday's 'away' game against Israel in Debrecen, Courell said the players will make further gestures for the initial game and the return 'home' fixture against Israel next Sunday in Serbia.
The fixtures have been embroiled in controversy since the two teams were drawn to play each other in Group B3. Republic of Ireland players faced calls to withdraw from the games because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war with a "Stop The Game" campaign - organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine - gathering pace.
"One of their requests is to remove their media obligations for the remainder of this window," Courell said at Saturday's delayed news conference. "They also have the intention to wear black armbands in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict. There will be elements of the pre-match ceremony not be partaken in by the Republic of Ireland and it is also the intention of the players to make a significant contribution to charitable donation by virtue of both [Israel] match fees and also the fixture against Austria at the Aviva [Stadium in Dublin on Thursday]."
There appeared to be real doubt on Saturday morning whether the fixture would take place. A pre-match news conference with manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player, scheduled for 09:15 BST, was postponed just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to start, with reporters informed it would instead take place after the team's training session which was also delayed.
The players were locked in a meeting back at their hotel after it emerged a player, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, withdrew from the game in protest with several other expressing their concerns about fielding. About 13:00, players began to filter out of the meeting room, with it then confirmed the news conference would indeed go ahead, back at Nagyerdei Stadion at 14:30, with training to follow.
More than five hours after the initial news conference was scheduled to begin, Courell - flanked by Hallgrimsson and FAI director of football John Martin - confirmed a players' vote passed by a "significant majority" to play the game.
"This morning, a player expressed their discomfort at the fixture and indicated their intent to withdraw," Courell said. "This new variable required time for the rest of the squad to consider and what proceeded was another four hours of conversations, predominantly among the players, but also at times with coaching staff and the [FAI] executive. There were a lot of positions presented and the association is fully respectful of everyone's right to their respective opinion."
Later on Saturday, Bazunu posted on social media explaining his decision, one that he said he had "not taken lightly". "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," he said. "My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong. It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israel people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region. There are few times when you get a chance in life to stand up for something bigger and I strongly believe that this is one of them."
Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr and ex-international James McClean are among those to have backed calls for a boycott of the fixtures.