Why has Ireland defender Jimmy Dunne been named as a goalkeeper ahead of Israel clash?

Jimmy Dunne currently plays his club football with Queens Park Rangers. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ireland has been forced to name defender Jimmy Dunne as a goalkeeper ahead of its UEFA Nations League 2026-27 match against Israel after Gavin Buzunu pulled out of the match.

According to reports, Buzunu told the squad that he did not wish to take part in the fixture. In a delayed press conference yesterday, manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said that a player would be leaving the squad, though he did not specify whom.

Ireland has been coming under increasing pressure in Ireland, where affinity with Palestinians is strong, to boycott the two games against Israel — Israel’s “home” game Sunday and Ireland’s “home” game in Backa Topola, Serbia on October 4.

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Football Association of Ireland (FAI) CEO David Courell said that “a significant majority” of the squad had voted to take part in the game, and that Ireland would fufil the fixture in Debrecen, Hungary.

Dunne’s positional change thus becomes necessary because UEFA rules require teams to name three goalkeepers in the squad. With Buzunu absent, Caoimhin Kelleher and Max O’Leary are the only keepers available, forcing Dunne to become a makeshift third goalkeeper.

Published on Sep 27, 2026

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