Uefa has confirmed it is investigating a half-time incident during Sunday's Nations League game between Republic of Ireland and Israel following an accusation of spitting. The fixtures, played at neutral venues, were embroiled in controversy since February due to the Israel-Gaza war. The "Stop The Game" campaign, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine, staged protests before and during Thursday's game against Austria in Dublin.
Tensions boiled over in Serbia with players clashing at full-time. Republic of Ireland manager Hallgrimsson praised his players for staying calm despite the hostile environment. Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon claimed he did not see anything at half-time, stating he was in his dressing room.
Despite pressure to boycott and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu making himself unavailable, the FAI decided to fulfil both fixtures. The teams did not engage in pre-match formalities, while Irish players bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing