Israel and Ireland Football Teams to Avoid Handshakes

The Israeli and Irish national football teams will not shake hands before their upcoming UEFA Nations League match, following an agreement facilitated by UEFA. This decision comes after the Irish Football Association announced that their team would make gestures in support of Palestine. Consequently, Israeli football officials decided that their players would also refrain from shaking hands with the Irish players during the pre-game ceremony. Following the national anthems, the teams are expected to move to separate sides, avoiding any physical contact between players. This arrangement aims to prevent a potentially awkward or confrontational situation, stemming from the Irish team's planned political statements.