Republic of Ireland and Israel players do not exchange handshakes before their UEFA Nations League match in Hungary. Multiple outlets report that neither team’s players shake hands with opponents before kick-off, drawing attention to a tense atmosphere around the fixture.
The decision is presented in the coverage as connected to controversy involving Israel’s war in Gaza. Outlets describe the match as “controversial,” with the handshake refusal positioned as a visible form of protest. While the reports focus on the moment and the absence of formalities, they do not provide details of any official statements from either team or from UEFA about the incident.
The accounts are aligned on the central fact—no handshakes occur prior to the game. Coverage varies mainly in wording and emphasis, but consistently links the lack of pre-match greetings to broader political tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
