Bazunu is understood to have communicated his position to FAI officials as concerns continue to grow among members of the Ireland squad about taking part in the match.
The situation has led to discussions within the team, with a number of other players reportedly considering whether they should also refuse to play.
Ireland’s preparations were disrupted on Saturday when a scheduled press conference and training session were unexpectedly postponed. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and a senior Ireland player had been due to address the media, but the team had yet to leave their hotel as discussions continued.
The delay came shortly before the press conference was due to begin and reportedly surprised UEFA officials. By lunchtime, members of the travelling media had moved to the team hotel in an effort to establish the reason for the disruption.
The developments follow a team meeting held on Friday, where Ireland’s players discussed the upcoming match and how they would respond to the fixture.
There have also been protests and public calls for Ireland to boycott the game against Israel. Demonstrators have voiced their opposition to the fixture, with the issue attracting significant attention in the build-up to Sunday’s match.
The calls for a boycott have placed further focus on the Ireland squad, with players now having to consider their individual positions on taking part.
Bazunu’s reported decision has added to the uncertainty, although it remains unclear whether other members of the squad will ultimately choose not to play.
Ireland are scheduled to face Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday evening. However, the disruption to the team’s preparations means there is now considerable uncertainty surrounding the final line-up and the events leading into the fixture.
Further discussions within the Ireland camp are expected before the team takes to the field.
