In the duel, Irish manager Israel spits at halftime

In the hallway of the Serbian sports hall, shortly after the break, the Irish athletic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson throws an accusation into the circle: He was spat on by the Israeli side on the way to the dressing room at halftime. The match, which ended in Backa Topola without spectators, was 1-1.

According to Irish media, Hallgrimsson claims that he was spat on by an Israeli player or staff member during halftime. On the way to the dressing room he raised the accusation, but evidence for it is not yet known.

Cell phone videos only show restless players and staff, while a voice from the background shouts: “Be clever.” A clear proof of the spitting is still missing.

Coach refuses comment

At the press conference after the 1-1 in Backa Topola, Hallgrimsson did not want to address the incident. He said: “I will not comment on that, it is probably something the disciplinary committee will look at.”

In a longer interview with the Irish broadcaster RTE, Hallgrimsson dismissed any impact of the alleged spitting accusation. He said: “We need some time to reflect on all this.” and added: “It is also the best time to recognize one’s enemies.”

Hallgrimsson emphasized that he no longer wishes any matches between the two nations, although the decision lies with UEFA. “I do not wish any national team to have to go through what we experienced in these two weeks,” he explained.

Political tensions shape the encounter

The appearance was politically explosive, because in Ireland there is strong support for Palestine and Israel is heavily criticized for the Gaza war. Irish players were urged from home to boycott the internationals, and backup goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno declined to take part.

Instead of Dublin, the match took place in Serbia, with spectators not allowed. The Irish players refrained from handshakes, from slapping each other’s backs, and lowered their heads during the Israeli national anthem.