Gavin Bazunu has a history of being a strong and brave character.
This is his interview as a CHILD of just 16 years of age, making his debut for the Irish Men's team.
A remarkable character.
Tá grá againn duit Gavin ❤️🖤🤍💚🤍🧡
#StopTheGame
Credit @AnnMarie_Keegan
Israel FA Head of Communications Shlomi Barzel speaking to Globes last September:
“I’m surprised we’re still part of international tournaments. In many ways, it’s a miracle.
“You can explain the miracle through the actions we have taken and through a great deal of tolerance from FIFA and UEFA but, historically countries have been suspended for much less.
“If there had been a free vote, we wouldn’t have survived it.”
And this was him writing in Haaretz October 2007, during the controversy over German-Iranian player Ashkan Dejagah refusing to play against Israel:
“Sports and politics have always gone hand-in-hand.”
He cited Yugoslavia and South Africa as examples of countries excluded from international sport until they “changed their ways.”
A far cry from his statement yesterday:
“What pleases us today, is that football has won. The separation between football and politics must be maintained.”
"I've spoken to all of them, individually. None of us feel comfortable playing these games but once we have decided to play them, we all stick together and play as one. That’s the agreement with all of us."
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson talks about his players facing Israel.
Extraordinary this from Brian Kerr:
- Spoken with Gavin Bazunu who’s feeling quite low and shunned by players/FAI
- Suggested to him it’d be better he left the squad for remainder of this window
- Wasn’t told about meeting this morning
- Wasn’t there for vote this morning (his vote was assumed by other players)
🎥 @VMSportIE
You can feel sorry for the players for being in this position.
You can feel sorry for the pressure they've been under from the FAI, agents, clubs and probably more.
But should they leave their teammate, friend and countryman out in the cold, it will be a stain on them forever.
From Ireland
To: Gavin Bazunu
I love you ❤️🖤🤍💚🤍🧡
Selling genocide and half-cut pride, I understand
I had to be there from the start, I had to be the fucking man
#StopTheGame@GavinBazunu1