Ireland-Israel: staff member says an Israeli player spat at him

The match was played behind closed doors in Serbia on Sunday. It was also played at half-time, in the tunnel. Damien Doyle, Ireland’s performance coach, says an Israeli player spat at him on the way back to the dressing rooms, according to the Irish Times, relayed by RMC Sport and So Foot. The player has not been named, and nobody has confirmed the incident so far.

Hallgrímsson calls on UEFA to act

The Ireland head coach knows of the accusation; he did not see the incident. “Maybe UEFA should step in and take measures,” he said after the match, quoted by RMC Sport. So Foot reports he raised the possibility of disciplinary action against the player.

He described a tense evening: “I had the feeling they were trying to intimidate us from kick-off, so I commend the players for staying calm. It could have turned into a game full of yellow and red cards.”

The Israeli federation declines to comment

Its press officer shut the door: “I did not see anything, so I cannot comment.” Head coach Ran Beh-Shimon did not speak at the press conference.

A double header full of tension

The 1-1 draw followed an already stormy first act, Israel-Ireland (0-3), played in Hungary. RMC Sport reports the words of an Israeli journalist who accused an Irish player of calling an Israeli player “a monkey” during that game; the Irish press officer had replied: “That is absolutely false.”

On the pitch, Ireland hold the upper hand: five points and third place in League B Group C, against two points and a -5 goal difference for Israel, bottom of the table. The rest of this affair will be decided in UEFA’s offices if proceedings are opened.