Saints’ Ireland internationals snub Daniel Peretz and team in controversial game
Daniel Peretz, Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz were all involved as the Republic of Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Hungary on Sunday.
The match was never certain to go ahead, as talks were held within Ireland’s camp after players raised concerns over the outing amid Israel’s huge presence in conflict in the Middle East.
One player who strongly opposed playing was former Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. The Irishman was the only player who opted out in the end, adding to tensions around the game.
It was a match that Southampton will hope doesn’t add any tensions to their camp following the international break, with players from both sides involved in a tense affair.
Ireland’s pre-match snub
While Ireland did choose to go ahead and play Israel in the UEFA Nations League after deliberation, the team did protest their opposing country’s actions in the Middle East by wearing black armbands and bowing their heads to their national anthem.
Ireland also protested by refusing to shake hands with Israel, which meant Daniel Peretz was snubbed by his Southampton teammate Ryan Manning, who started the game.
Fellow Southampton star Finn Azaz was involved in the matchday squad, but did not weigh into the match.
The game in an eerily empty stadium finished 3-0 to Ireland, as efforts from Troy Parrot, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan travelled past Saints’ Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, but all the key controversy was off-field.
One player who was not at all involved in the game was former Southampton shot-stopper Gavin Bazunu.
Gavin Bazunu’s stance
In a statement on his Instagram account, Gavin Bazunu, who played 97 times for the Saints between 2022 and 2026, wrote, “Representing my country means everything to me. I have the utmost respect for every single one of my teammates, the manager, his staff, and the Irish people.
“However, I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle. Therefore, I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel.
“My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.
“It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community, but against the atrocities in the region.
“There are few times in life when you get a chance to stand up for something bigger, and I strongly believe that this is one of them.”
Looking closer to home, Southampton will be hoping the tensions between Israel and the Republic of Ireland don’t continue through to the club after the international break.
While Daniel Peretz, Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz will all have their personal beliefs, the Saints and head coach Tonda Eckert will be hoping the trio will maintain a positive working relationship.
With the south coast derby first up after the three-week interval ends, Southampton will need to be primed and ready for a huge match in their season.
