A Republic of Ireland fitness coach has alleged that he was spat at by an Israel player during a confrontation in the tunnel at half-time of the Nations League fixture in Serbia.
Damien Doyle is understood to have made the accusation after the teams left the pitch, with Ireland leading 1-0 following Troy Parrott’s 39th-minute penalty.
The match had already been played against a backdrop of heightened political and sporting tensions. Israel equalised two minutes after the interval when Dor Peretz scored from close range against Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Kelleher and Peretz, captains of their respective countries, had declined to shake hands or exchange pennants before kick-off. The same decision had been made before the previous meeting, when Dara O’Shea and Manor Solomon led their teams out.
Israel and Ireland repeat pre-match protest
Ireland’s players and staff again lowered their heads during Israel’s national anthem. They also wore black armbands in recognition of lives lost in the war in Gaza.
Israel’s players wore black armbands after UEFA approved a request to honour those killed in the attacks of October 7, 2023, when around 1,200 people died and 251 were taken hostage. Peretz kissed his armband after scoring the equaliser.
The Republic of Ireland had faced calls to boycott both fixtures because of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The “Stop The Game” campaign was organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine and backed by former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and ex-international James McClean.
Ireland’s players voted to take part in last weekend’s match, a 3-0 victory, while also wearing black armbands and declining to exchange pennants before kick-off.
The return fixture was moved from Dublin to Backa Topola after a Football Association of Ireland decision in June. Ireland were again without goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who made himself unavailable for both matches, while Finn Azaz was named among the substitutes.
Tensions had also surfaced before the match, when an Israeli journalist accused Ireland players of using a racist term to describe their opponents during a press conference.
Ireland press officer Kieran Crowley immediately rejected the claim, saying: “That is completely untrue. That is completely untrue.” The conference was then ended early after an Irish official attempted to take the journalist’s microphone.
Irish media reported before kick-off that two Israeli journalists had been banned by UEFA from attending the post-match press conferences following the incident.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had said he hoped UEFA would consider separating the two teams in future. “They can’t have this happening again, just for the players’ welfare,” he said.
