Former national team goalkeeper against Ireland: "Go to hell"

Former Israel national team goalkeeper Dudu Aouate shared a photo from a previous match against Ireland and wrote: "Ireland national team, go to hell." This comes hours before tonight's Nations League match, amid a planned Irish protest that includes avoiding handshakes and flag exchanges.

Former Israel national team goalkeeper Dudu Aouate shared a photo on social media today (Sunday) from a previous match between the Israeli and Irish national teams, hours before tonight's Nations League meeting. Aouate attached a caption to the photo: "Always Jewish. Always Zionist. Always Israeli. And always with my head held high," alongside the Israeli flag, and later wrote in English: "Ireland national team, go to hell." Tonight (21:45) the teams take the field at the stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, amid public pressure in Ireland for a boycott and the withdrawal of Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from the squad in protest. The Irish team is planning a "cold protest": no handshakes, no flag exchanges, no media interviews, and black armbands. The national broadcaster RTÉ, which boycotted the Eurovision 2026 competition in Vienna, will broadcast the match in a reduced format: without commentators and without a studio.