Ireland Captain Nathan Collins Says Team Will Trust FAI on Israel Matches

Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins said the national team must trust the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Government to decide how to handle the scheduled Nations League matches against Israel. Collins spoke after the squad completed friendlies against Qatar and Canada.

The defender stated that the players were selected to represent the country and must rely on the decisions made by football authorities and government officials.

The FAI has confirmed the Group B3 matches will take place as planned. Ireland will play on neutral ground on 27 September and at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 4 October. The fixtures have drawn protests and calls for a boycott, even though the Irish Government has expressed support for the games.

Collins said any internal discussion among players would require the full group. He added that individuals who choose to take a stand would not be opposed by teammates.

Collins also addressed Brentford’s Premier League season, which ended with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a ninth-place finish. He noted the team fell short of European qualification despite strong momentum during the campaign. He described mixed emotions after the season and referenced Ireland’s World Cup qualifying loss to the Czech Republic on penalties after a 2-0 lead in March.