The Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Israel in the second controversial Nations League fixture between the sides.
Troy Parrott’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by Dor Peretz after the break in the behind-closed-doors game in Serbia.
The Republic’s ‘home’ fixture was held on neutral territory at the 4,500-seat TSC arena in Backa Topola, due to “operational challenges that could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil” according to a June Football Association of Ireland (FAI) statement.
Both sides wore black armbands. The Republic’s, the same as in Hungary to acknowledge – as the Football Association of Ireland chief David Courrell explained before that contest – “all lives lost” in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Israel’s armbands – which read “7.10” – were to commemorate the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, their official X account confirmed.
The pitch featured no sponsored content or branding, just UEFA graphics with slogans like “football for all”, a decision taken by the FAI.
The referee pleads with the benches in Serbia
Tensions rose at half-time after a fracas broke out in front of the tunnel and players from both sides engaged in a heated argument, with the Israeli Government later accusing Irish players of “moral blindness” for bowing their heads during Israel’s national anthem, as they did in Monday’s first match.
Officials broke up a second altercation in three minutes of added time, and there were more heated words exchanged after the final whistle.
On the pitch Parrott, who has now scored 10 times in his last seven competitive internationals, fired the Republic in front from the spot in the 39th minute before Dor Peretz drew the sides level two minutes after the restart.
The result puts Ireland third in Nations League Group B3, level on points with second-placed Kosovo.
Hallgrimsson calls on UEFA to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has called on UEFA to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw, Hallgrimsson also declined to comment on the half-time fracas between the two sides.
When asked if the two countries should be playing each other again, he told RTE Sport: “No, they shouldn’t. That’s not ours to decide – that’s UEFA who decides that. Obviously, there’s a big support for Palestine in Ireland. There’s not many countries that support Palestine as much as Ireland does.
“I wouldn’t wish any national team to go through what we’ve gone through in these two weeks, so maybe UEFA just needs to step in and do something.”
On the half-time incident, he said in his post-match press conference: “I was there. I’m not going to comment on it. It’s something that a disciplinary committee is probably going to look at.”
Sky Sports News has contacted UEFA for comment.
Two Israeli journalists banned for post-match press conferences
Meanwhile, prior to the match, UEFA confirmed that two Israeli journalists were banned from the post-match press conferences, after Saturday’s pre-match Ireland press conference descended into chaos.
The media access for Ireland was cut short after an Israeli journalist alleged that Israeli players had claimed Irish players had racially abused them during the match in Hungary last weekend.
The journalist alleged a derogatory term was used – which Sky Sports has chosen not to repeat. It is not a term associated with being antisemitic or anti-Israeli.
An Irish press officer refuted the allegation, saying “that’s completely untrue”, and brought the news conference to a premature close.
After the press conference ended abruptly, Serbian police were called due to an allegation of assault by an Israeli journalist who had the microphone taken from them by an FAI press officer.
Sky Sports News understands there was no further action was taken by police.
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