Bosnia and Herzegovina players refuse to shake hands with Israeli footballers
Players from the Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 national football team refused to shake hands with Israeli players during the ceremony for their 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group G qualifying match, in protest against the genocide in Gaza and attacks on Iran.
İHA
In the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group G qualifiers, the Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 team hosted Israel U21. The match, played in Budapest, ended in a goalless draw. However, the match was defined more by the protest of the Bosnian players than by the result.
During the pre-match ceremony for the game, which was held in Hungary due to security concerns in Israel, several Bosnian players refused to shake hands with the Israeli players. Team captain Muhamed Buljubasic, who plays for the Süper Lig side Çaykur Rizespor, was the first to walk past the opposing team without shaking hands.
After greeting the referees, Buljubasic ignored the Israeli players and walked past them.
The Bosnian press commented that the protest was linked to the developments in Gaza and the tensions in the region.