Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson stated that a disciplinary committee will investigate allegations that an Israeli player spat at one of his coaching staff during the recent UEFA Nations League match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The match on Sunday concluded a series of fixtures marked by political tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Prior to the matches, there were calls from some supporters and politicians in Ireland to boycott the games. In their first meeting, Ireland secured a 3-0 victory against Israel behind closed doors in Hungary.
Hallgrimsson expressed relief that the matches were over, noting the emotional toll they took on the team. He commended the players for their performance during a challenging period.
The Football Association of Ireland decided to hold the match in Serbia without spectators amid pressure to withdraw from the fixtures. Reports indicated that after the half-time whistle, Ireland coach Damien Doyle accused an Israeli player of spitting at him. Hallgrimsson refrained from commenting on the incident, stating it would be reviewed by the disciplinary committee.
Israel's coach, Ran Ben-Shimon, mentioned he was not present to witness the incident, as he was in the dressing room during half-time.
The match featured no pre-match handshakes or exchanges of pennants, and players bowed their heads during the opposing national anthems. Both teams wore black armbands to honor victims of the ongoing conflict. Ireland took the lead with a penalty from Troy Parrott, but Israel equalized shortly after the break with a goal from Dor Peretz. The match ended without a winner, leaving Ireland third in Group B3 and Israel at the bottom of the group.