Irish Coach Allegedly Spat On During UEFA Nations League Match with Israel

An Israeli player allegedly spat on Irish coach Damien Doyle during the halftime whistle of their UEFA Nations League clash. The match, the second encounter between the sides in two weeks, was held behind closed doors in Serbia after the Football Association of Ireland faced calls from supporters and politicians to boycott the fixtures. Ireland had previously beaten Israel 3-0 in a closed‑door game in Hungary a week earlier. Irish media reported the spitting incident, but Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who was present at the stadium, refused to give details, saying a disciplinary committee would handle it. Israel coach Ran Ben‑Simon said he was in the dressing room at halftime and did not see what happened, promising to investigate and respond later. Ireland’s Hallgrimsson expressed relief that the episode was over, noting the strain it placed on the team over the past two weeks. Both teams entered the match without pre‑match handshakes or pennant exchanges, and players bowed their heads during each other’s national anthems. Ireland is one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s war in Gaza, and the FA I chose to stage the match behind closed doors amid pressure to withdraw. Ireland wore black armbands to honor Gaza victims, while Israeli players wore black armbands for those killed in the October 7 attack. ## Context The UEFA Nations League groups teams of similar ranking for competitive matches. Political disputes sometimes spill onto the pitch, as seen with the Gaza conflict influencing fan and player reactions. Playing matches behind closed doors is a common measure to reduce crowd‑related tension.