UEFA investigates alleged spitting incident in Ireland-Israel match

UEFA has launched a disciplinary investigation into claims that an Israeli player spat at a Republic of Ireland staff member during a Nations League match in Serbia on Sunday.

European football’s governing body has appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to review potential misconduct by players following reports of an incident in or around the tunnel at half-time. Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that UEFA confirmed the probe via an emailed statement. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, was reportedly marked by flared tempers both on and off the pitch.

The allegation involves Ireland’s athletic coach, Damien Doyle, who reportedly accused an Israeli player of spitting at him as the teams left the field. While Irish head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson confirmed there was an "accusation of spitting," he declined to provide specifics, telling reporters he would let the disciplinary committee handle the matter. Hallgrimsson told the broadcaster RTE that he believed the opposition intended to intimidate his players and praised his team for staying calm.

The Israeli Football Association has denied the claim, with a spokesperson telling The Guardian that "no one had spat towards the coach." Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he did not witness any incident as he was in the dressing room with his staff at the time. According to The Guardian, the match had already become a geopolitical flashpoint, leading to the fixture being played in Serbia due to "operational challenges" that prevented it from being staged in Dublin.

The investigation follows a series of tensions surrounding the double-header. The Guardian reported that two Israeli journalists were banned from the post-match press conference after UEFA found they had used a prior media session for politically motivated purposes. BBC Sport noted that players from both sides also clashed at full-time during the match, which was played behind closed doors.

Background

The Nations League fixtures between Ireland and Israel have faced controversy since the February draw, with the "Stop The Game" campaign calling for an Irish boycott due to the Israel-Gaza war. Although goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for the games, the Football Association of Ireland decided to fulfill the fixtures at neutral venues in Hungary and Serbia.