Israeli government compares Ireland to Nazi Germany after Nations League spitting row

The Israeli government compared the Republic of Ireland football team to Nazi Germany on Sunday, escalating a bitter diplomatic dispute that overshadowed a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw in Bačka Topola, Serbia.

Posting on X shortly after kick-off, the Israeli government drew a direct parallel between Ireland’s bowed heads during the Israeli national anthem and footage of Irish players giving a Nazi salute before a May 1939 friendly against Germany, months before the outbreak of World War II. “1939: Irish players raised their arms in salute to Nazi Germany. 2026: Irish players bowed their heads during Israel’s anthem,” the post read. “Different generations. The same moral blindness.”

The post also referenced Israel’s black armbands, worn in tribute to victims of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, including former professional footballer Lior Asulin. “Some of us have skin in the game. Others just make a show of it,” it concluded.

The match itself produced further controversy. According to The Irish Times, a member of Ireland’s backroom staff alleged that an Israeli player spat at him as both squads walked off at half-time. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson confirmed the allegation but declined to elaborate, saying he had not witnessed the incident directly.

On the pitch, Troy Parrott converted a first-half penalty to give Ireland the lead before Dor Peretz equalised shortly after the interval. The result left Ireland third in their Nations League group with five points from four matches, level with second-placed Kosovo.

The tension had been building across both fixtures. Ireland’s players had previously refused to shake hands with their Israeli counterparts before a 3-0 defeat, and maintained that stance in Serbia. The day before Sunday’s game, Hallgrímsson’s pre-match press conference was cut short after an Israeli journalist questioned him about alleged racial abuse of Israeli players by members of the Ireland squad.

Hallgrímsson praised his players for keeping their composure under the circumstances, but called on UEFA to prevent the two nations from being drawn together in future competitions. “No, they shouldn’t [face each other],” he told RTÉ Sport. “That’s not ours to decide — that’s UEFA who decides that.”

Ireland had faced calls to boycott both matches in protest at the conflict in Gaza, but the squad voted to fulfil the fixtures.