Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins has said that players will not be prevented from taking a personal stand over the team’s upcoming Nations League matches against Israel. While the Football Association of Ireland confirmed earlier this year that it would fulfil the fixtures due to the risk of disciplinary action or possible disqualification, Collins stressed that individual players are entitled to their own views and would not be held back if they chose to express them.

Speaking ahead of a friendly against Qatar in Dublin, Collins described the situation as difficult and said the squad must ultimately trust the football association and the government to make the right decisions. He added that players are selected to represent their country and must rely on those in charge to guide them through complex political circumstances.

The decision to proceed with the matches has drawn criticism, including protests outside the Irish parliament and calls for a boycott from campaign group Irish Sport For Palestine. The group alleges serious breaches of international football statutes and accuses Israel of grave violations in Gaza. Israel has rejected accusations of genocide or war crimes, stating that its military actions followed the attack by Hamas in October 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 72,500 people have been killed since Israel launched its military response.