Ireland Beats Israel 3-0 Amid Protests and Boycott Calls

Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in a Nations League match on September 28, 2026, with Irish players wearing black armbands to support Gaza and refusing handshakes. The match was marked by protests, monkey chants, and boycott threats, with some describing it as a "dreary farce." The story behind the match involved bowed heads, black armbands, and a one-man boycott. In a related development, Morocco-Israel ties deepened as protesters demanded "no ambassador, no embassy."