Israel face spitting allegation as Ireland boss ‘delighted’ ties after over

What the report says

Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Israel in UEFA Nations League B on Sunday ended a two-match series overshadowed by political tension and match-day incidents, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. The game followed Ireland’s 3-0 win over Israel a week earlier in a behind-closed-doors meeting in Hungary, after calls from some supporters and politicians for a boycott. The Football Association of Ireland again staged the return fixture without spectators, this time in Serbia, amid concerns tied to Ireland’s criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said he was relieved the fixtures were over and told reporters that any allegation involving a possible spitting incident would be handled by football authorities. Irish media reported that coach Damien Doyle accused an Israeli player of spitting at him after halftime. Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he had not seen the incident and would check what happened before commenting further.

On the field, Troy Parrott scored a first-half penalty for Ireland before Dor Peretz equalized shortly after the break. Israel struck the woodwork twice but could not find a winner. The result left Ireland third in Group B3 on five points, with Austria leading and Kosovo ahead on goal difference, while Israel remained bottom on two points. The broader context reflects how the fixtures became entangled with the Gaza war, with both sides wearing black armbands for victims of the conflict and the October 7 attack.