Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has urged Uefa to prevent his team from being drawn against Israel again following two matches that he said had been difficult for everyone involved. Ireland surrendered their lead and settled for a draw in another tense encounter, played behind closed doors at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia.
Hallgrímsson declined to discuss an incident at half-time in which a member of his coaching staff reportedly claimed that an Israeli player had spat at him. The Icelandic coach said the issue should be handled by the appropriate disciplinary authorities.
He said the team needed time to process what had happened before moving forward, adding that challenging moments often reveal who is willing to support someone and who is looking to make matters worse.
When asked whether the two nations should face each other again, Hallgrímsson said they should not, although he acknowledged that the decision belonged to Uefa. He added that he would not want another national team to experience what Ireland had endured over the previous two weeks and called on the governing body to intervene.
Troy Parrott converted a penalty in the first half of the Group B3 fixture, but Dor Peretz equalised shortly after the interval. Parrott, who has scored 10 goals in his last seven competitive international appearances, put Ireland ahead from the spot in the 39th minute before Peretz restored parity two minutes into the second half.
The Irish players once again wore black armbands and lowered their heads during Israel’s national anthem before Sunday’s second Nations League meeting between the teams. Israel’s players also wore black armbands to commemorate those killed in the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.
Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher captained Ireland in the absence of Dara O’Shea, who had been allowed to join his wife for the birth of their child. Kelleher completed the customary pre-match greeting with the referee and an assistant but deliberately did not shake hands with Israel captain Peretz.
Kelleher’s decision mirrored O’Shea’s actions before the previous match in Debrecen, Hungary, when the defender refused to shake hands with Israel captain Manor Solomon. Ireland won that game 3-0 after scoring three times in the opening half. Solomon was named among the substitutes for Sunday’s fixture, while Israel forward Sayed Abu Farchi returned after completing a suspension imposed following his dismissal for a goal celebration during a 3-1 loss to Austria the previous month.
Finn Azaz, whose mother is of Israeli heritage, was included among Ireland’s substitutes after starting against Austria on Thursday.
Ireland were beginning to play with greater rhythm when Jimmy Dunne earned a penalty. Israel goalkeeper Assaf Tzur rushed out in an attempt to gather the ball but brought Dunne down, and the decision was upheld after an extended VAR review.
Peretz brought Israel level two minutes after the second half began. Oscar Gloukh’s attempt deflected off Liam Scales and fell kindly to the stand-in captain, who beat Kelleher with a low shot.
Sunday’s match had originally been scheduled to take place in Dublin, but the Football Association of Ireland relocated it to a neutral ground in June for “operational reasons” after widespread boycott demands relating to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The association also confirmed that no supporters would be admitted.
The decision came after the Irish association submitted a motion the previous November asking Uefa to suspend Israel from both club and international competitions.
Tensions between the teams intensified when a confrontation occurred as the players headed towards the tunnel at half-time. Officials later intervened to stop another dispute during three minutes of stoppage time, and further heated exchanges followed the final whistle.
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