Hallgrimsson: 'Lies' told over Bazunu's Israel exit

Heimir Hallgrimsson said "a lot of lies" were told about Gavin Bazunu's decision to withdraw from Ireland's Nations League match against Israel, and confirmed the return fixture will go ahead on Sunday despite renewed calls for a boycott.

Ireland won 3-0 in Hungary last weekend after a majority of the squad voted on the eve of the match to fulfil the fixture. Bazunu, the goalkeeper, pulled out on ethical grounds, and reports since have described a fractured dressing room, with the keeper said to have been insulted by teammates over his stance.

Hallgrimsson addressed the fallout at a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's home game with Austria.

"Gavin is a great lad, I've always had a good relationship with him and it's probably tougher for him than the other players, but they have really welcomed him. There's been a lot of lies said around all of this, but we welcomed him back and he's taking part. Amazing, I think it shows his character, as well, to be with us. So I want to give him praise for that. I want to give the players praise for how welcome they have been with him. Life goes on. He's a part of this group and I think that shows how strong the bond is between these players that even a thing like this is not breaking us."

— but will sit out Sunday's return fixture with Israel, which the Football Association of Ireland has switched to Serbia and will play behind closed doors.

Speaking separately to the Daily Mail, Hallgrimsson confirmed the FAI's position directly.

"The FAI [Football Association of Ireland] has said we are playing both games. That was our intention when we came into the camp and it is still our intention. We are trying to focus on the football. It is already decided we will fulfil the games. It's been tough, especially on the players. It's been really tough. Like all of this camp we almost take it day by day. That is already decided that we are going to fulfil the games."

Asked whether players had called a further meeting to reconsider playing, Hallgrimsson said they had not. The FAI has described the vote to fulfil the Israel fixtures as backed by a "significant" majority of the squad.

The row has run alongside a wider public campaign in Ireland. A petition against the fixture was signed by almost 20,000 people, hundreds of pubs declined to screen the first match and have said they will do the same on Sunday, and protests were held outside the team hotel in Dublin. The "Stop The Game" campaign, organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine, has called for supporters to gather again ahead of the return leg.

Midfielder Finn Azaz, who has Israeli heritage and has scored six goals for Southampton since joining in February, stayed on the bench for the win over Israel — a decision that has kept his own involvement under scrutiny alongside Bazunu's absence.

If Sunday's match goes ahead as planned in Serbia, the closed-doors setting will mark a second successive Nations League fixture between the sides shaped as much by the protests around it as by events on the pitch.