This is a country known for its love of throwing a few back when the moment strikes.But it's disconcerting to see that their drink of choice is the Kool-Aid.Players of Israel and Ireland stand for the anthems before a UEFA Nations League soccer match in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sept.
27, 2026.(AP Photo/Zsolt Czegledi)CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEIreland's players opted not to shake the hands of their Israeli opponents before Sunday's Nations League match in Hungary, and their goalkeeper, Gavin Banzunu, refused to play against Israel because of his "personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong."It was one giant virtue signal in the team's attempt to announce its moral superiority, but upon a closer look, it was the Irishmen who fell short.Some background.The Irish soccer team had faced pressure to boycott Sunday's game against Israel due to the country's response to the Hamas terror attacks on Oct.
7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 Israelis.The narrative pushed by much of the media is that the counter-attacks have been akin to a "genocide," which has no basis in reality.Nevertheless, the Irish soccer team has seemed to deem Israel the villain in this conflict, and took out their resentment on the Israeli players.
They wouldn't even shake their hands??? Pathetic.Republic of Ireland's Evan Ferguson looks on as play is halted after protesters threw tennis balls onto the pitch during an international friendly against Qatar at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 28, 2026.The protest targeted Ireland's upcoming soccer fixtures against Israel.
(Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)ISRAELI OFFICIAL SAYS EU SANCTIONS REVEAL ANTISEMITISM HIDING BEHIND 'SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE MASK'Let's pretend for a second that Israel was, indeed, the "bad guy" in this conflict — something I don't believe to be true.Does that mean it's OK to shun the athletes representing the country?Where else could you apply that logic?Should opponents of North Korea's teams refuse to sh...