Ireland midfielder Jamie McGrath said the team do not want to be caught in the controversy over their Nations League games against Israel. The call comes after Thursday's friendly win over Qatar in Dublin was disrupted by protests.
Tennis balls featuring the Palestinian flag were thrown onto the pitch, halting the match twice. McGrath told the BBC: "I'm sure it's going to heat up over the next few months. We don't want to be put into a position. Hopefully the powers above us can work something out."
Ireland are scheduled to host Israel at the Aviva Stadium on October 4. A September 27 match designated as an Israel home game is expected to be played at a neutral venue.
The Football Association of Ireland has said it will go ahead with the fixtures, warning that refusal to play could lead to disciplinary measures. In November last year, 93% of FAI members voted to urge UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions.
"At the end of the day, we're footballers and we don't want to be caught in this, but sometimes we might have to," McGrath added.