Ireland and Israel complete controversial Nations League fixture in Serbia

Ireland and Israel drew 1-1 in a Nations League football match held in a near-empty stadium in Backa Topola, Serbia, on Sunday. According to The Journal, this result was an improvement for Israel following a 0-3 loss to Ireland the previous weekend in Hungary. [1]

The Journal reported that the match took place on the anniversary in the Hebrew calendar of the 7 October attack by Hamas. Sunday's fixture also featured altercations, including an allegation by Irish fitness coach Damien Doyle that an Israeli player spat at him as the teams exited the pitch at half-time. Ireland players bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem. [1]

Tensions had already affected the fixture before the match. As FTMQ News reported earlier, a pre-match press conference involving Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson was cut short after Israeli journalists questioned him about an incident on a Flydubai flight and allegations of racial abuse, which the Football Association of Ireland rejected. [5]