Republic of Ireland signs outfield player as goalkeeper after Gavin Bazunu skips Israel game
The Republic of Ireland have named defender Jimmy Dunne as their third-choice goalkeeper for the Nations League match against Israel after Gavin Bazunu decided not to play.
Bazunu, the 24-year-old Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper, chose to skip the game to protest against the violence happening in the region. He shared on Instagram that his decision comes from his personal beliefs about the killing of innocent people. He also made it clear that his choice is not against Israeli or Jewish people.
With Bazunu stepping back, Ireland followed UEFA rules by picking centre-back Jimmy Dunne as a third goalkeeper alongside Caoimhin Kelleher and Max O’Leary.
There have been many calls for Ireland to boycott the matches due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. The ‘Stop The Game’ campaign has gained a lot of support.
After telling manager Heimir Hallgrímsson he didn’t want to be part of the squad, Bazunu wrote on Instagram: “Playing for my country means everything to me. I respect my teammates, the manager, his staff, and the Irish people very much. But I’ve made a tough decision. I have strong faith and believe in standing up for what’s right. That’s why I won’t be playing against Israel.
“My choice is based on my belief that killing innocent people is wrong. I want to be clear that this is not against Israeli or Jewish people but against the violence happening there.
“Sometimes in life, you have a chance to take a stand for something bigger, and I believe this is one of those times.”
Before the international break, Ireland’s manager Hallgrímsson said, “None of us feel comfortable playing these games.” When asked how players can concentrate on the matches amid boycott talks, he added, “We’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, not with Israel.”
On September 21, the Israeli Football Association criticized Hallgrímsson online, calling his comments “stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy.” They said: “Israel has contributed a lot to the world, including many Nobel Prizes. Sadly, we haven’t found a cure for the ignorance shown by Ireland’s coach. We’re not ignoring this; we’re speaking out against the coach who shows these faults.”
No Irish fans will be at the away match in Debrecen on Sunday, September 27. The return game will be in Backa Topola, Serbia, on October 4.