Ireland held by Israel but another ugly incident overshadows Nations League clash

CLASH: Players and officials, including Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and Republic of Ireland head of athletic performance Damien Doyle, centre, during the UEFA Nations League B match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel at TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

IRELAND 1 (Troy Parrott pen 39) ISRAEL 1 (Dor Peretz 47)

Survival from this window was the mission set for Ireland by Heimir Hallgrímsson but there’s no surviving the controversy around Israel games after another ugly incident.

Troy Parrott’s penalty on 39 minutes in the behind-closed-doors venue ought to have sent Ireland towards a second successive victory over their opponents but a sloppy equaliser conceded immediately after half-time cost Ireland another lead and two points.

However, the meeting at Backa Topola was overshadowed by an incident in between when the FAI’s fitness coach Damien Doyle claimed aloud he was spat at by an Israeli player before they entered the tunnel. Investigations are ongoing.

There was just as much to observe off the pitch on it, before, during and after the 93 minutes. All of the rancour caused by two Israeli journalists at Saturday’s pre-match press conference included a postscript.

Uefa has been accused of negligence by not being in the stadium room to intervene when off-topic questions had been posed about the midweek hijacking incident and an unsubstantiated allegation of racism against an Irish player.

It was left to the FAI to rule the conduct out of order and end the session prematurely but the global headlines it attracted prompted Uefa to immerse themselves in proceedings.

First up, both of the Israeli media, one female and one male, were informed they would be excluded from the post-match managerial interviews.

Such was the tension that the FAI felt it prudent to apply the separation cordons to the media. This was the FAI’s game to coordinate, albeit in a neutral country, and they were determined to have clear blue water between all counterparts.

Heimir declines to comment on spiting incident at half time, allegedly by an Israel player towards the Ireland fitness coach but predicts action from Uefa. pic.twitter.com/ELlPSJmR99

— John Fallon (@JFallonExaminer) October 4, 2026

It had already been decided among the players ahead of last week’s first meeting of their refusal to shake hands with their opponents, added to be their gesture of bowing heads for the Israeli national team.

These were repeated and Caoimhín Kelleher, deputising as captain because Dara O’Shea was with his wife due to give birth, didn’t wait around for Israel skipper Don Turgeman to extend his hand. He even sacrificed shaking hands with the full team of officials to scarper.

That frosty atmosphere was extended into the main stand where a couple of security personnel were deployed on the steps to ensure a safe distance between both sets of dignitaries. Members of the Israeli ‘special forces’ were among their party, equipped with ear-pieces and face-masks.

If this was a normal match with fans in attendance, such measures would usually only be reserved to ringfence the away section.

Division was even applied to the media parties at the request of the FAI. The pre-match skirmishes led to a risk-averse policy.

There was no shortage of players being in close proximity, especially in the case of Jayson Molumby.

NUDGE: Ireland’s Jayson Molumby under pressure in the air from Israel’s Liel Abada in their Nations League Group stage meeting in Backa Topola, Serbia last night. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho

Renowned for his propensity to wind opponents up, the overspill from last week was apparent as he was continuously targeted by Israelis, starting with Eliei Peretz’s early shove. That treatment became more regular and sinister as time ticked along but he can be glad it resulted in a free-kick that led to Ireland’s breakthrough.

Before that, an Israeli side with five home-based players showed a vast improvement on last week’s drubbing. Their first point of the campaign earned against Kosovo carried into a brisk start with Kelleher required on 17 minutes to Caoimhín Kelleher has tipped a shot around the post on 17 minutes to tip around the post a rasping effort by ex-Celtic attacker Liel Abada.

Pleas from the sideline by Hallgrímsson to ‘do everything quicker’ were understandable considering the sluggish start and there was finally urgency in a passage that produced their first sight five minutes later, That originated from Ryan Manning’s throw-in, the clearance of which fell to Jack Moylan.

His deft flick allowed Molumby to arrive on cue to drill a 20-yard shot that fizzed past the near post.

Molumby continued to be integral to the action, such as having Dor Turgeman plant his hand across his face, but the Spanish referee’s decision to award him a free-kick 20 yards on 35 minutes was crucial.

From the set-piece, Ryan Manning fed a clever pass into Parrott’s feet and his shot on the turn was spilled by Assaf Tzur. Once the rookie goalkeeper allowed the ball from his grasp, Jimmy Dunne was first to react, only to be tripped by Eliei Peretz.

Although Juan Martínez Munuera initially failed to award the penalty, he did so after a VAR check, enabling Parrott to smash his spot-kick into the bottom left corner.

It was the tenth goal for Parrott in his last 10 competitive matches, but the shame was that, similar to against Kosovo last Thursday week, he was starved of subsequent service.

That opener becalmed a ragged Irish side but the slowness to which they began the second half triggered the comeback of that trend of conceding soon after the interval.

Dor Peretz grabbed the equaliser with 90 seconds of half starting, gobbling up the loose ball that fell his way when Oscar Gloukh’s shot deflected off Liam Scales into his path.

Although that constituted Israel’s first effort on target, it sparked them into a momentum that saw them finish the game stronger.

Idah, Scales and Manning were all wasteful with chances while substitute Chiedozie Ogbene drew the ‘keeper into a superb one handed save with 15 minutes left but Ireland were the team fortunate not to concede a second.

Twice, five minutes apart, Israel struck the post. Substitute Omri Gandelman was first to beat Kelleher but not the woodwork before Gloukh of Ajax saw his volley clip the outside with 13 minutes remaining.

ISRAEL (4-1-4-1): A Tzur; I Feingold (E Dasa 78), I Nachmias, N Stoinov, R Revivo; E Peretz; Dor Peretz (Y Shua 78), E Azoulay (Y Levi 59); O Gloukh, D Turgeman (O Gandelman 59), L Abada (M Solomon 72).

IRELAND: (3-4-2-1): C Kelleher; J Dunne, J O’Brien, L Scales; J Knight, J Molumby, C Coventry (B Lawal 84), R Manning (J Bagan 84); J Moylan (C Ogbene 69), A Idah (R Vatta 69); T Parrott.

Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP).