Who is Gavin Bazunu, and why is he boycotting the Ireland vs Israel match?

Gavin Bazunu, a 24-year-old goalkeeper born in Dublin of Irish and Nigerian descent, has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for two UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel. Bazunu has been Ireland’s preferred keeper in recent games and has 22 senior international appearances. He announced on social media that, as a person of faith and principle, he could not take part because he believed the killing of innocent people was wrong and that this moment required taking a stand.

The Football Association of Ireland confirmed Bazunu would be replaced for Sunday’s fixture in Debrecen; he did not join the squad’s training after the team arrived in Hungary. The two matches against Israel — one in Debrecen and the second in Backa Topola on October 4 — were scheduled despite sustained public calls in Ireland for a boycott over Israel’s war in Gaza.

Bazunu’s withdrawal was the only publicly declared opt-out from the Ireland squad, and it has generated wide public reaction. Former Irish manager Brian Kerr described the decision as legitimate and praised Bazunu, saying the player had felt isolated and had been excluded from an FAI player meeting in which a vote on the Israel game took place. Politicians and activists, including former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, also commended Bazunu for his stance.

In his statement the goalkeeper stressed his position was directed at the atrocities in the region rather than at the Israeli people or the Jewish community, and said representing Ireland meant a great deal to him. The episode has intensified scrutiny of the FAI’s decision to participate in the fixtures and underlined how international conflicts are influencing choices made by athletes and sporting bodies.