Ireland-Israel Nations League Tensions: Spat at Spitting Claim, No Handshake, Bowed Heads

Tensions between the Ireland and Israel national football teams reached a peak in their Nations League return leg at a neutral venue in Serbia, closing out two weeks of political controversy.

The League B, Group 3 match finished 1-1 at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola on Sunday, but clashes and allegations flared even though the game was played without fans and at a neutral venue.

The events followed the confrontational tone of the first leg on September 27, when Ireland won 3-0 against Israel.

Ireland's players had faced pressure from home — where there is strong sympathy for Palestinians — to boycott the return leg against Israel, although the pressure appeared greater for the first match.

“I felt that pressure increase every day and now it's almost at breaking point,” Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said at the time.

Spitting allegation aimed at Israel

Irish media reported that one of the team's coaches, Damien Doyle, alleged an Israel player spat at him after the half-time whistle.

“I was there. I'm not going to comment. This is something a disciplinary panel will look at,” Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told reporters when asked about the incident.

Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he had left the touchline and did not see anything.

“First half, I was in the dressing room with my staff; I didn't see anything. When it's reviewed and checked, I'll answer you,” he told reporters.

Will UEFA take action over the Israel players?

It is not yet clear whether European football's governing body will sanction the players.

UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) did not respond to Al Jazeera's requests for comment on whether a disciplinary investigation has been opened.

While spitting incidents are not rare in football, there have previously been no reports between Ireland and Israel players.

Why didn't Ireland players shake hands with Israel?

Before the first leg, the FAI gave Israel advance notice that Ireland's players would not shake hands as a silent form of protest, and UEFA approved the arrangement.

It was one of several protest measures announced by FAI chief executive David Courell at the pre-match news conference. He said there would be no traditional pre-match pennant exchange, Ireland players would wear black armbands to remember all victims of the war in Gaza, and match fees would be donated to charity.

Ireland's players also bowed their heads while Israel's national anthem was played.

Ireland is one of Europe's most vocal critics of the war in Gaza, and the FAI chose to stage Sunday's match without fans in Serbia amid pressure to withdraw from the fixtures.

Will Ireland and Israel meet again?

No, Sunday's game was the second and final meeting between the two teams in group play. They will not face each other again in the current Nations League cycle.

“I'm extremely glad this is over,” Hallgrimsson said after Sunday's match, according to Irish national broadcaster RTE.

Asked whether Ireland and Israel should be drawn in the same group in such competitions, he said: “No, we shouldn't.”

“But it's not up to us to decide. UEFA is the one that decides.”

The Icelandic coach then spoke about the toll on his players.

“I wouldn't wish any national team to go through what we've been through these two weeks. So maybe UEFA needs to step in and do something.”

Hallgrimsson stressed Ireland's support for Palestine, saying emotions ran high because of that affinity.

“There's obviously huge support for Palestine in Ireland. Not many countries support Palestine as much as Ireland.”

Does UEFA separate teams for political reasons?

Yes, although UEFA uses a computer-generated system to divide 54 nations into four pots to form groups, the body has certain draw conditions to keep some teams apart for geopolitical or travel reasons.

The only “prohibited conflict” in the 2026-27 cycle is between Bosnia and Herzegovina (League B, Pot 2) and Kosovo (League B, Pot 4).

Other teams that cannot be drawn together for political reasons under a UEFA Executive Committee decision include:

• Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Gibraltar and Spain
• Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Kosovo and Serbia
• Kosovo and Russia
• Ukraine and Russia
• Ukraine and Belarus

Why didn't Ireland's Finn Azaz play against Israel?

Ireland player Finn Azaz, whose mother is of Israeli heritage, was left on the bench for both matches after Hallgrimsson said he “didn't feel ready for the game”.

“Obviously we spoke a lot together and it was difficult for him. I could feel it when I spoke to him,” the Ireland coach told the public broadcaster.

“It tested him more than all of us. So I felt it was better to leave him out rather than play him.”

Why did Ireland players wear black armbands?

Ireland players wore black armbands in both matches to remember Palestinians killed in Gaza.

Israel, meanwhile, wore black armbands bearing “7.10”, a reference to October 7, when Palestinian Hamas gunmen launched attacks in southern Israel, after which Israel launched a military campaign against Palestinians in Gaza.

Have other teams worn black armbands in international matches?

Yes, several teams have worn black armbands to mourn a player or coach who died.

Portugal wore black armbands and held a moment of silence for midfielder Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash in July 2025. The team later moved to longer-term tributes with custom wristbands bearing Jota's name and his squad when they played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

All Premier League teams and officials honoured Brazil legend Pele with black armbands and a minute's applause before kick-off at several matches during the week of his death in December 2022.

In 2020, AC Milan and Torino wore black armbands to pay tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant, an AC Milan supporter who lived in Italy for years in his childhood.