‘You can’t win’: Ireland’s football team to play Israel despite player protest

DUBLIN — Ireland’s football players voted behind closed doors Saturday to proceed with their match against Israel — but their coach conceded that his squad was close to “breaking” over the matter. Ireland’s Icelandic coach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, faced a locker-room revolt as one of his players, substitute goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, told him he wouldn’t suit up. Training and press conferences were postponed as rumors swirled as to whether others would join Bazunu, potentially leaving Hallgrímsson with too small of a squad to compete. But after several hours of closed-doors discussions, Ireland’s 26-player squad voted on whether to play Israel — and, according to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), most said yes.