Ireland and Israel draw amid allegation after tense Nations League match
Ireland and Israel drew 1-1 in a Nations League match played without supporters after two weeks of political tension. Ireland’s coach said an allegation that an Israeli player spat at an Irish coach would be handled by a disciplinary committee, while Israel’s manager said he had not seen the incident.
Ireland and Israel drew 1-1 in the second of their Nations League meetings, ending a fortnight marked by political tensions surrounding the fixtures. Troy Parrott gave Ireland the lead from a 39th-minute penalty. Dor Peretz equalised shortly after half-time with Israel’s first effort on target.
Israel later hit the woodwork twice, but neither side found a winner. Irish media reported that Ireland coach Damien Doyle accused an Israeli player of spitting at him after the half-time whistle. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said he had witnessed the incident but would not comment because it would be considered by a disciplinary committee.
Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he had left the touchline before half-time and had not seen what happened. He said he would check the details. The match was played behind closed doors in Serbia.
There were no handshakes or exchanges of pennants before the game, and players bowed their heads during the opposing national anthems. Both teams wore black armbands, with Ireland commemorating victims of the war in Gaza and Israel remembering victims of the October 7, 2023 attack. Ireland had beaten Israel 3-0 in their previous meeting in Hungary.
The draw left Ireland third in Group B3 on five points, behind Austria and Kosovo. Israel remained bottom with two points.
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