Nathan Collins urges trust in FAI and government over Israel Nations League fixtures

Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins has called on his squad to trust football authorities and the Irish Government to make the right decisions over the country’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, as protests and boycott calls continue to mount.

The FAI has confirmed the two Group B3 matches will go ahead as scheduled — a neutral-venue fixture on 27 September and the return leg at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 4 October — despite widespread public opposition and significant pressure on the association to withdraw.

“For the players, we just have to trust the FAI,” Collins said. “We have to trust the government that they know what they’re doing. We’re picked to play football. We’re picked to represent our country. It’s a tough situation for us to be in and we have to trust the people around us, that they know what they are doing.”

The 25-year-old Brentford defender also left the door open for teammates who might wish to make an individual stand, stopping short of ruling out any form of player protest. “If individuals wanted to take a stand, we are not going to stand against them, we are not going to hold them back,” he said. “They are entitled to their own opinions. If they are very strong about that, we can’t stop them.”

Collins made the comments while on international duty for friendly matches against World Cup-bound Qatar and co-hosts Canada, with the Israel controversy casting a shadow over Ireland’s preparations.

The defender also reflected on a bittersweet Premier League season with Brentford, who finished ninth under former Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews — just outside European qualification — after a 1-1 draw at Anfield on the final day. “Leaving Anfield with a draw and you’re frustrated, it doesn’t happen often,” Collins said. “It’s a bit of mixed emotions.”

Ireland’s summer has already been marked by disappointment after their World Cup play-off hopes were ended by the Czech Republic on penalties in March, having led 2-0 in Prague, adding further emotional weight to a period in which the squad must now navigate one of the most politically charged fixtures in the nation’s recent football history.