Jason Knight has become the first Republic of Ireland player to publicly say he thinks Sunday’s friendly against Israel should not go ahead, even as he accepts the game will play out anyway.
The sides meet in Debrecen, Hungary at 19:45 BST on Sunday, with the return fixture set for Backa Topola, Serbia on 4 October. Since the draw put the two teams together in Group B3, there has been growing pressure in Ireland to pull out of the fixtures because of the ongoing war in Gaza, with a ‘Stop The Game’ campaign gaining steam.
Knight made his position clear after Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Kosovo in Pristina, where the Republic’s stand-in skipper Dara O’Shea confirmed the players would meet on Friday to talk through their approach to Sunday’s ‘home’ game against Israel. That match will have no Irish fans in attendance.
“I 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 following the Kosovo game.
“We’ll have a deeper talk about it and what that means, we’ll get our thoughts as a group and go from there.”
Knight’s Hesitation
Knight’s hesitation is the whole story. He acknowledges the war, questions whether the game should happen, and then accepts it will happen anyway. The contradiction is the point.
He also spoke about the wider conversation around the fixture. “We had chats about it with the players, and more senior players on what the step will be,” he added.
“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.”
The midfielder, who plays for Bristol City in the Championship, noted that none of the players have been through this situation before. “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 also tried to separate his football from the political context. “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.”
What The War Looks Like
The scale of the conflict is enormous, and it is why the question of whether to play is so serious. 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. More than 73,000 people have been killed in that offensive, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations (UN).
That toll is the backdrop to everything Knight said. The ‘Stop The Game’ campaign in Ireland reflects public concern about sports continuing while this war rages, and Knight’s comments show that some players share it.
The Players’ Meeting
O’Shea, the stand-in skipper, confirmed the players would meet on Friday to discuss their approach to Sunday’s game. The meeting will determine how the team handles the fixture.
Knight said the group would get their thoughts together and proceed from there. He also noted that the conversation with senior players has already started.
The fact that Knight is speaking publicly at all is notable. He is the first Republic of Ireland player to openly question whether the game should happen, and his words carry weight because he is doing it after Thursday’s match.
The Fixtures In Question
Sunday’s game is officially a ‘home’ fixture for Ireland, but the lack of Irish supporters means the label feels hollow. The players will have to decide how to treat it, and Knight’s comments suggest he wants to talk about what that means.
What Knight Actually Said
Knight’s remarks were measured throughout. He did not call for a boycott. He did not demand a cancellation. He simply said he does not think the game should go ahead, and then acknowledged that it will.
That tension is the whole story. Sport continues, and Knight is trying to find a way to play while acknowledging the moral weight of the situation.
The Campaign Back Home
The ‘Stop The Game’ campaign in Ireland has gathered pace since the fixtures were drawn.
Knight’s comments will likely energise that campaign. He is a professional footballer speaking openly about the wrongness of the situation, and his willingness to do so gives the campaign a new voice.
What Comes Next
The players will meet on Friday. They will talk about what Sunday’s game means and what the consequences might be. Knight has already said he will try to focus on the football, but the context will be impossible to ignore.
The match will go ahead. That much is settled. What remains open is how the players choose to handle it.
Key Facts Box
- Sunday’s game: Debrecen, Hungary, 19:45 BST
- Return fixture: Backa Topola, Serbia, 4 October
- Group: B3
- Drawn together: after the tournament draw
- Kosovo result: 1-0 loss to Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday
- Players meet: Friday to discuss approach
The Numbers Behind The Conflict
- Hamas attack: 7 October 2023
- Killed: about 1,200
- Hostages taken: 251
- Gaza deaths: more than 73,000
- Figures considered reliable: United Nations (UN)
Sport continues, and Knight is trying to find a way to play while acknowledging the moral weight of the situation.
Source material: “Israel game should not go ahead – Republic of Ireland's Knight,” the BBC.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.