In the closed confines of Backa Topola, where Ireland and Israel met behind locked gates in Serbia, a Nations League match carried tensions far beyond the final score. Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Israel on Sunday was marked by contrasting tributes, a fraught build-up, 27 fouls and a reported incident in the tunnel at half-time.
Different messages behind black armbands
Both teams wore black armbands, although they did so for different reasons. Ireland’s players used them as a protest against the war in Gaza, repeating a gesture made during the reverse fixture in Hungary a week earlier.
Israel’s squad wore theirs in remembrance of people killed in the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023.
The atmosphere had already been strained before kick-off. During Israel’s national anthem, Ireland’s players and members of the coaching staff lowered their heads. At the coin toss, captains Caoimhin Kelleher and Daniel Peretz did not shake hands or exchange pennants.
Relations had been tense the previous day too, when Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s press conference was cut short following difficult exchanges with Israeli journalists.
Parrott puts Ireland ahead before Israel respond
On the pitch, Ireland had arrived with confidence after winning the first meeting 3-0, but they could not complete another victory in the Group B3 contest.
Troy Parrott gave Ireland the lead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute. Israel drew level shortly after the interval when Peretz reacted quickest after Oscar Gloukh’s effort had been diverted, finishing from close range in the 47th minute.
Israel’s equaliser contained an element of fortune but followed a spell in which Ran Ben Shimon’s side had earned their way back into the game.
A match broken up by fouls
The encounter produced 27 fouls and four yellow cards, with much of the disruption coming before the break. Liam Scales was booked in the 44th minute after a heavy challenge on Liel Abada.
There were also reported confrontations in the tunnel at half-time, including an allegation that Ireland fitness coach Damien Doyle was spat at.
At full-time, Israel’s players celebrated the point together, while Ireland’s squad left the field without engaging with them. The two managers, Hallgrimsson and Ben Shimon, did not appear to shake hands after the final whistle.
