UEFA investigates allegation of spitting at Ireland staff member — The Guardian

UEFA has launched a disciplinary investigation over an allegation concerning an incident during the Nations League match between the Israel and Ireland national teams in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The allegation is that an Israeli footballer allegedly spat at a member of the Irish team’s coaching staff.

Allegation in referees’ reports

As The Guardian reports, European football’s governing body confirmed that post-match reports by officials contained information about an incident in or near the tunnel during half-time. UEFA will examine possible disciplinary breaches by the player or players.

Witnesses at the match said they heard a member of the Irish staff say that an Israeli player spat at him as the teams were heading towards the tunnel. According to the publication, the staff member was fitness coach Damian Doyle.

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Positions of the parties

A representative of the Israel Football Association denied the reports, stating that no one spat in the coach’s direction. Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said after the game that his team had faced a number of what he described as provocations while preparing for the match, but the players did not allow the situation to escalate into a more serious conflict.

The match, which was formally a home game for Ireland, was played behind closed doors in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The Football Association of Ireland explained the relocation of the match from Dublin by operational difficulties which, in its assessment, did not allow the game to be held safely in the country’s capital.

Hallgrímsson also asked UEFA not to pair Ireland and Israel in the same draw in the future. UEFA responded that decisions on avoiding matches between certain teams are made separately in each case, including with regard to security risks.