Ireland and Israel end Nations League rivalry with ill-tempered stalemate

BACKA TOPOLA, Serbia, Oct 4 : Tempers flared again as Ireland and Israel drew 1-1 on Sunday in the second of their two UEFA Nations League meetings, concluding a fortnight dominated as much by political tensions as football.

Ireland had faced calls from some supporters and politicians to boycott the fixtures before beating Israel 3-0 behind closed doors in Hungary in their first meeting a week ago.

"I'm absolutely delighted this is finished," Ireland's Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told reporters.

"It's taken a toll out of us all. I've given so much credit to the players. They have been absolutely amazing in tough times, and I wish no national team to go through what we have gone through for the last two weeks."

Ireland is one of Europe's most outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza, and the Football Association of Ireland chose to stage Sunday’s match behind closed doors in Serbia amid the pressure to withdraw from the fixtures.

The absence of supporters did little to ease the tension on the pitch.

Irish media reported that one of Ireland's coaches Damien Doyle had accused an Israeli player of spitting at him after the halftime whistle. Reuters could not independently verify the allegation or establish its original source.

Asked about the spitting incident at the post-match press conference, Hallgrimsson declined to provide details.

"I was there. I’m not going to comment. It’s something a disciplinary committee will look at," he told reporters.

Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he had already left the sideline and did not see what happened.

"Halftime I was in the dressing room, in my room with my staff, I didn't see anything. When I'm going to see and check, I will get back to you with the answer," he told reporters.