European football’s governing body has initiated a formal disciplinary investigation into a confrontation that occurred during Sunday’s UEFA Nations League match between Ireland and Israel. The inquiry follows an allegation that an Israeli player spat at a member of the Irish coaching staff as both teams retreated to their dressing rooms at half-time.
UEFA confirmed in an emailed statement on Tuesday that an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to review the incident. The probe will examine any potential misconduct from players that took place at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia, based on official reports submitted regarding the tunnel altercation.
Reports from Irish media identified the individual targeted in the alleged incident as Damien Doyle, Ireland’s athletic coach. When asked about the confrontation during his post-match press conference, Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson refrained from providing specifics, noting that the matter is now in the hands of a disciplinary committee. He stated, “I was there. I’m not going to comment. It’s something a disciplinary committee will look at.”
Hallgrimsson further observed that the match was marked by multiple instances of tension that could have easily spiraled out of control. Reflecting on the team’s conduct, he told RTE, “We were clever enough to stop it before it went too far. I felt that was the intention from Israel, to intimidate us and make us do something stupid. I give big credit to the players and how they handled their emotions.”
In response to inquiries regarding the incident, Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon denied witnessing the event, claiming he had already left the sideline for the dressing room. “Half-time, I was in the dressing room, in my room with my staff; I didn’t see anything,” Ben-Shimon told reporters, adding that he would investigate the claims and provide a response once he had verified the details.
