Israel's team wears October 7 armbands in closed-door Nations League clash with Ireland

Israel's football team will wear black armbands in Sunday's UEFA Nations League match against Ireland, played behind closed doors in Serbia after UEFA approved the commemoration.

• UEFA approved the Israel Football Association's request to wear the armbands, submitted three days before the October 7 anniversary.
• Ireland's association moved the fixture from Dublin to Bačka Topola, Serbia, citing "operational challenges," and it will be played behind closed doors.
• Israel lost the prior meeting 3–0 on 28 September, when Irish players wore black armbands, refused handshakes, and bowed during Israel's national anthem.
• Israel sits last in the group on one point after Thursday's goalless draw with Kosovo; Austria leads with seven.
• Ireland's players again refused handshakes and stood with heads bowed during Israel's anthem before Sunday's match in Serbia.
• An Israeli journalist accused Ireland's players of racial abuse at the pre-match press conference, a claim the FAI dismissed as completely untrue before ending the briefing.
• The FAI is investigating allegations that Israeli fans racially abused Adam Idah during Ireland's 3–0 win in the previous meeting.
• The match ended 1-1, with Ireland's Troy Parrott scoring a first-half penalty and Israel captain Dor Peretz equalising in the second half.
• Ireland moved to five points, level with Kosovo in second place, while Israel remain bottom of the group on two points.
• Hallgrimsson said Israel tried to intimidate his team and that he was delighted the fixtures are over.
• Irish staff member Damien Doyle alleged an Israeli player spat on him, an incident set for review by a disciplinary committee.
• Israel manager Ran Ben-Shimon said he did not witness the spitting and denied his players were overly aggressive.