Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason Knight has broken ranks to become the first player from the squad to publicly say he does not believe Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Israel should take place. The match, part of Group B3, is scheduled for Debrecen, Hungary at 19:45 BST, with the reverse fixture set for Backa Topola, Serbia on October 4.
Both games have been relocated to neutral territory and will be played without spectators, a consequence of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The pairing of Ireland and Israel in the same qualifying group has sparked growing unease back home, with a 'Stop The Game' movement gaining momentum among fans and campaigners who want the Football Association of Ireland to pull out of the fixtures altogether.
Knight's comments came after Ireland suffered a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday, a result that leaves the team with plenty to ponder before Sunday's contest. The Bristol City midfielder revealed that senior figures within the squad, including stand-in captain Dara O'Shea, had already begun addressing the sensitive topic, and that a full squad meeting was planned for Friday to determine how the players would collectively respond.
"Look, it's difficult, the manager, and Dara, and Nathan [Collins] spoke well about it, I don't think the game should be going ahead but it is going ahead," Knight said. "We'll have a deeper talk about it and what that means, we'll get our thoughts as a group and go from there."
The 24-year-old acknowledged the weight of the issue extends well beyond the pitch, admitting he had been trying to keep his focus on football duties in England's Championship while aware that the topic would eventually demand his attention. "I think it was a difficult one. It's obviously big talk in Ireland. I have been focusing on my football in England in the Championship. But I knew this was coming so I had a think about it," he explained.
The backdrop to the qualifiers remains the devastating war triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths, according to figures from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations considers credible.
Knight indicated that conversations among the squad had already touched on what action, if any, the players might take and what ramifications could follow. "We had chats about it with the players, and more senior players on what the step will be," he said. "Now we're here, we can have a really in depth talk of what that means and what the consequences are. We'll do that [on Friday] and go from there."
Despite the unprecedented nature of the situation, Knight expressed confidence in his ability to handle the pressure that comes with speaking on such a divisive issue. "I am quite experienced. None of us have gone through this scenario before but I'd like to think I'm experienced, thick skin and can get through most things and that is what I will try and do," he said, adding that he intends to share his views when appropriate while keeping his primary attention on performing for his country. "I'll try and focus on the football as much as I can. I'll give my view and my thoughts on when I see fit, but I'll be trying to focus on the football as much as possible."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.