Israel's Abu Farchi sent off for gun celebration as 10-man side collapse against Austria

Saied Abu Farchi’s Nations League debut goal turned to disaster on Thursday as the Israel forward was sent off for his celebration during a 3-1 defeat to Austria in Linz, leaving his side to play the final 35 minutes with 10 men.

The 20-year-old Colorado Rapids striker had just equalised in the 55th minute when he ran to the corner flag, pulled it from the ground and dropped to one knee, appearing to mime a gunshot with the pole. Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov, citing Rule 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game — which allows a caution for any excessive or provocative celebration that incites the crowd or mocks opponents — showed Abu Farchi a second yellow card, having already booked him three minutes earlier.

Reduced to 10 men, Israel held on until the 90th minute before Phillipp Mwene put Austria ahead. Sasa Kalajdzic then sealed a 3-1 win in stoppage time.

The dismissal has not gone unchallenged. Several observers have argued that Abu Farchi was actually mimicking a pool or snooker shot, pointing to identical celebrations at club level that drew no punishment. Israel manager Ran Ben-Shimon backed that interpretation after the final whistle.

“I’ve seen it before and everyone can check,” Ben-Shimon said. “When this young player scores, in the Israeli national team or the MLS or anywhere he plays, he celebrates in the same situation again and again and he never gets a yellow card about it. He didn’t know about it — this is his way to celebrate every goal he scores. He’s a young player, I’m sure this lesson will stay with him a long time, he made a mistake.”

The match in Linz was played against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Israel’s next Nations League fixture is against the Republic of Ireland at a neutral venue in Debrecen, Hungary, with no away fans permitted and reduced television coverage. That game and a subsequent meeting in Serbia have already attracted controversy, with the Israeli FA accusing Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson of “hypocrisy and stupidity” after he said his team would be “playing against genocide” — a characterisation the Israeli government rejects.

More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, according to United Nations figures.