UEFA opens disciplinary probe after Israel player allegedly spat at Ireland fitness coach

UEFA has launched a formal disciplinary investigation into an alleged spitting incident that occurred at half-time during the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Israel in Backa Topola, Serbia, on 4 October 2026.

Ireland fitness coach Damien Doyle is understood to have alleged he was spat at by an Israel player in or around the tunnel at the TSC Arena. UEFA confirmed the appointment of an ethics and disciplinary inspector after reviewing official match reports, with a spokesperson stating the investigation would examine “potential misconducts from player(s)” during the Nations League fixture.

The incident was one of several flashpoints across two deeply contentious meetings between the sides. A week earlier, Ireland had won 3-0 in Israel’s assigned home fixture in Debrecen, Hungary — a match played against a backdrop of significant political pressure on the Irish squad to refuse to participate over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Further controversy surrounded the second fixture’s build-up when an Israeli journalist alleged at a pre-match press conference that Irish players had directed racial slurs at Israeli opponents during the first game. Irish communications officer Kieran Crowley flatly rejected the claim as “a lie” and ended the press conference immediately. Ireland forward Adam Idah, who is Black, was also allegedly subjected to racial abuse by a section of Israeli supporters during the opening match.

Following the 1-1 draw, Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson called on UEFA to intervene, saying he did not believe the two nations should face each other again. “I wouldn’t wish any national team to go through what we have gone through these two weeks, so maybe Uefa just needs to step in and do something,” Hallgrimsson said.

Ireland currently sit third in Nations League Group B3 after four fixtures. They face group leaders Austria in Linz in November before concluding the group stage against second-placed Kosovo in Dublin.