BACKA TOPOLA, Serbia: Israel's players wore black armbands in their Nations League draw against Ireland on Sunday to commemorate the victims of Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, after Irish players wore them to protest the war in Gaza.
The simple black armbands were inscribed with the numbers "7.10" to mark the date of the attack.
Just as in last week's first match in Hungary which Ireland won 3-0, the Irish players again bowed their heads during the Israeli anthem and the teams refused to shake hands before the 1-1 draw, this time played in the small Serbian town of Backa Topola.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had refused to host Israel on Irish soil for security reasons, following calls to boycott the matches.
