Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins says no player will be discouraged from taking a stand over the Boys in Green's Nations League fixtures against Israel if they wish to do so.
On Tuesday afternoon, a protest took place outside the Dáil against the FAI's decision to play the Ireland-Israel games in September and October.
In February, FAI chief executive David Courell outlined the association's reasons for their stance, saying: "While our federation and our members have made our position clear in terms of Israel's involvement in international football, that has not been taken on board by UEFA. As such they (Israel) are permitted to compete. And we have been consistent from day one that we will fulfil these fixtures."
The home game will take place at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 4 October, with the away match likely to be at a neutral venue the previous month.
There will be plenty of discourse around the games taking place over the next four months, with Collins fielding questions on the subject at FAI HQ at Sport Campus Ireland ahead of Thursday's friendly against Qatar at Lansdowne Road. Ireland take on Canada in Montreal on Friday week.
"They are entitled to their own opinions. If they are very strong about that, we can't stop them."
"For players we just have to trust the FAI," said Collins. "We have to trust the government that they know what they're doing. We're picked to play football. You know, 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."
Pressed on what might be discussed among the squad, the Brentford centre-half said: "What we'd speak about is hard to say, because you need the whole group together. But if individuals wanted to take a stand, we are not going to stand against them, we are not going to hold them back.
"They are entitled to their own opinions. If they are very strong about that, we can’t stop them."
Collins arrives in international camp after a strong Premier League campaign with the Bees, who missed out on a place in Europe only on goal difference following last Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
The Kildare native was named skipper by boss Keith Andrews at the start of the season, but admits he endured a rocky patch as he adjusted to the extra responsibility. He was dropped to the bench in late January, and had to kick his heels until early March before playing his way back into the team.
"Individually I had a lot of ups and downs," said the 25-year-old.
"I think at the start of the season I took a lot on. I became club captain and (captain) of my country, which I'm proud as anything of and I love it. Probably at the start I took too much on and took it too seriously, and I tried to change too much what I needed to do for the team.
"I felt like the longer the season went on, I found more my role as captain and what I had to be to be a good captain for the team. Brentford is a club that’s run by the players, so it doesn’t need one player to run it all. The longer the season has gone on, I’ve learned that and I’ve used the lads around me, and it has probably freed myself up a bit.
"It was similar with Seamus (Coleman) when he came into camp and John Egan came into camp. Maybe I felt like I had to do too much and I wasn’t performing to my best level. But when they came in they freed me up and let me concentrate on my game. I think my performances have stepped up since I found that within myself."
After the intoxicating highs of Portugal-Hungary, and the gut punch in Prague, it'd be understandable if Collins was less than enthusiastic about a couple of low-key friendlies off the back of a draining year, but insists that's not the case.
"Enthusiasm, excitement still," said Collins, who'll get his arm around the batch of fresh faces in the setup this week.
"I still get to represent my country. I still get to walk out with the green shirt on. I still get to play on an international stage. And I think the longer my career has gone, the more I've learned that you can't take these things for granted.
"They don't happen to everyone... and it's so easily slipped out of your hand as well. So I just try to enjoy it, get excited and try to enjoy playing for my country."
Qatar boss Julen Lopetegui, who once managed Collins at Wolves, sent the Cherry Orchard graduate a "lovely message" recently to check in with the defender, and Collins will pay that love forward as he makes the newbies feel settled in.
There'll be song initiations and "a bit of craic" before they get down to business on the pitch.
Prague was painful, but it gave the players a taste of the unique national euphoria that's awakened by the football team hitting the heights.
"There’s a bite in me, wanting to succeed more for Ireland," added Collins. "After seeing all the fans in Czechia, how much we came together, it gives you extra to want to do more.
"(Prague) was my first proper taste of it. Of course as a kid I’ve seen Ireland have some great moments but it's so different when you’re involved in it. To see what it meant to fans and us controlling and having an effect on that makes you want to give them more."
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