Uefa has opened a disciplinary investigation into an alleged spitting incident during the Republic of Ireland's Nations League match against Israel. The European governing body confirmed the probe after reviewing official reports from the 1-1 draw played in Serbia on 4 October.
An ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to look into potential misconduct by players. The inquiry follows an accusation from the Irish camp that a member of Israel's squad spat at Republic of Ireland head of athletic performance Damien Doyle during a half-time confrontation in the tunnel.
Hallgrimsson's view
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson later confirmed there was an "accusation of spitting" amid the fracas. Speaking after the match, he said he felt Israel "were trying to intimidate us from kick-off". He praised his players for staying composed in a tense atmosphere that could have resulted in numerous cards.
Hallgrimsson also suggested Uefa should intervene in future, stating he would not wish any national team to go through the experience his squad faced over the two fixtures. "Maybe Uefa just needs to step in and do something," he said.
Broader tensions
The match was the second of two politically charged fixtures played at neutral venues. The build-up was marked by pressure on the Irish squad to boycott the games due to the Israel-Gaza war, with protests organised in Dublin. The teams did not engage in pre-match formalities, and Irish players bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.
Further incidents were reported across both games. During a press conference, an Israeli journalist alleged Irish players used a racial slur, a claim swiftly denied by Irish officials who called it "a lie". Ireland forward Adam Idah was also allegedly subjected to racial abuse by a small section of Israeli fans during the first match."I didn't see anything," he said. "When I get the chance to check I will get back to you."
The Republic of Ireland sit third in Nations League Group B3 after four matches. Their next fixtures are away to Austria in November before a home match against Kosovo. Cape Town City FC's next fixture is at home to The Bees on 11 October.
