With UEFA approval: Israel's national team will wear black armbands in memory of October 7 victims in match against Ireland

Israel's national football team will take the field tonight against Ireland wearing black armbands in memory of the victims of the October 7 massacre, after UEFA approved the association's request. The Irish are expected to take protest measures, as they did in the previous match.

Israel's national football team will take the field tonight (Sunday, October 4) against Ireland in the Nations League wearing black armbands in memory of the victims of the October 7 massacre. This comes after UEFA approved the request of the Israel Football Association, three days before the third anniversary of the massacre. The Irish, for their part, are expected to take protest measures against Israel tonight as well, as they did in the previous match between the teams. The match, which is a home game for Ireland, will be held in Bačka Topola, Serbia, without an audience. The Irish association scheduled it in Serbia rather than Dublin, citing operational challenges. In the previous match, Irish players wore black armbands, refrained from shaking hands with Israeli players, and bowed their heads during the playing of "Hatikvah." On Thursday, the Israeli team earned its first point in the campaign, with a 0-0 draw against Kosovo. Israel is in last place in the group with one point.