'I don't think the game should be going ahead' - Knight first Republic of Ireland player to speak out on Israel fixture

Jason Knight has become the first Republic of Ireland player to publicly voice his opposition to Sunday's Nations League meeting with Israel, declaring that "I don't think the game should be going ahead".

The sides are due to meet in Debrecen, Hungary at 19:45 BST, with the return fixture scheduled for Backa Topola, Serbia on 4 October. Since the sides were drawn together in Group B3, there have been increasing calls in Ireland to withdraw from the games due to the ongoing war in Gaza, with a 'Stop The Game' campaign gathering pace.

Knight, the Bristol City midfielder who made his Republic of Ireland debut in 2020 and has won 44 caps, spoke following Thursday's 1-0 defeat by Kosovo in Pristina. Stand-in skipper Dara O'Shea had confirmed before the match that the players would meet on Friday to discuss their approach to Sunday's 'home' game against Israel, which will have no Irish fans in attendance, before their behind-closed-doors match the following week.

"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."

"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 added.

The backdrop to the fixture

The armed Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, during which more than 73,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Squad to meet on Friday

"We had chats about it with the players, and more senior players, on what the step will be," added Knight. "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."

"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."

"I'll try and focus on the football as much as I can. I'll give my view and my thoughts when I see fit, but I'll be trying to focus on the football as much as possible."