Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has said he spoke individually with his players about the upcoming Nations League matches against Israel, explaining that "none of us feel comfortable playing in these games." The two matches—scheduled for neutral venues—are set to take place on 27 September in Hungary and 4 October in Serbia. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed that the team's "home" game will be played behind closed doors, and no tickets will be available for Irish fans attending the "away" match in Serbia. After naming his squad, which includes upcoming matches against Kosovo and Austria, Hallgrimsson said he chose individual conversations over group discussions, acknowledging that players have "different opinions" but emphasized unity once the decision to play is made. The decision to proceed with the matches was approved by the FAI at an extraordinary general meeting in July, despite concerns that a boycott could harm the association financially and reputationally. However, the move has faced growing criticism, particularly from the "Stop The Game" campaign, which calls for a boycott of matches involving Israel. The campaign has gained support from former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and ex-player James McClean. The controversy reached a peak during a friendly match against Qatar in Dublin in May, when tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch by protesters. The tensions stem from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel began a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which the United Nations estimates has resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths. Israel has consistently denied allegations of genocide or war crimes, stating its actions are justified as self-defense. FAI director of football John Martin described the situation as "very uncomfortable for everyone" and stressed that players should not face criticism for participating. Hallgrimsson echoed this, saying the team aims to represent Ireland with the best performances possible, even though he acknowledged that not all players share the same views. The Nations League matches will be the Republic of Ireland's first competitive games since their World Cup play-off semi-final loss to the Czech Republic in March. Since then, the team has played four friendlies, winning two and drawing two.