Omanghana
UEFA has launched a disciplinary investigation into an alleged spitting incident during a half-time confrontation in the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League match against Israel on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The match, which ended 1–1 at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia, was marred by an altercation as players and coaching staff left the pitch for the dressing rooms.
Ireland’s head of athletic performance, Damien Doyle, alleged that an Israeli player deliberately spat at him near the tunnel. The Israeli Football Association has denied the allegation.
UEFA confirmed on Tuesday, October 6, that it had appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate possible misconduct after reviewing the official match reports.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said he witnessed the confrontation and accused Israel’s players of attempting to “intimidate” his team. His Israeli counterpart, Ran Ben-Shimon, said he had already entered the dressing room and had not seen the incident.
The fixture was the teams’ second encounter in a week and took place against a backdrop of tensions surrounding the war in Gaza. It was played behind closed doors at a neutral venue after the Football Association of Ireland opted against staging it in Ireland.
Before kick-off, Irish players bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem, while the teams did not exchange handshakes.
Following the match, Hallgrímsson called on UEFA to intervene and urged the governing body to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future tournament draws.
The investigation will examine the alleged misconduct, with no disciplinary finding announced at this stage.
Source: Omanghana
