Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from Ireland’s Nations League match against Israel and released a statement: “Representing my country means everything to me. I have the utmost respect for every single one of my teammates, the manager, his staff and the Irish people. However, I have reached a decision that I have not taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle. Therefore, I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel. My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong. It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition to the Israeli people or the Jewish community, but against the atrocities in the region. There are few times in life when you get a chance to stand up for something bigger, and I strongly believe that this is one of them.”