Jason Knight, midfielder for the Republic of Ireland, has become the first player from the national team to publicly express his disagreement with playing the UEFA Nations League matches against Israel. The first leg is scheduled for Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary, with the return fixture set for October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia.
Following the draw that placed the teams in Group B3, calls within Ireland to withdraw from the fixtures have intensified amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This has been accompanied by a growing “Stop the Game” campaign advocating for a boycott.
The Ireland captain, Dara O’Shea, previously confirmed that the squad would meet on Friday to discuss their stance regarding the upcoming matches against Israel.
Knight commented, “Look, it’s a difficult situation, but the manager, Dara, and Nathan Collins have spoken positively about a boycott. I don’t think the games should be happening, but they will take place.”
“We will have a more detailed discussion, share our views within the group, and base our approach on that. I think it’s a complex issue. There’s a lot of talk about it in Ireland.
None of us have faced something like this before, but I believe I have the experience to handle it. I’ll try to focus as much as possible on football. I will share my opinions and thoughts when I feel it’s appropriate, but overall, I’ll do my best to concentrate fully on the game.”
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