Uefa has initiated an investigation into a half-time incident during the Nations League match between Republic of Ireland and Israel, which ended in a 1-1 draw on October 4, 2026, in Backa Topola, Serbia. This follows an allegation made by Damien Doyle, head of athletic performance for the Republic of Ireland, claiming he was spat at by an Israel player.

Heimir Hallgrimsson, the head coach of the Republic of Ireland, confirmed the accusation of spitting during the halftime altercation. In a statement, Uefa noted that an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to oversee the investigation regarding potential misconduct by players involved in the match.

The match has been fraught with controversy since the teams were drawn to face each other in Group B3 back in February. The ongoing Israel-Gaza war has led to calls for the Republic of Ireland to withdraw from these fixtures, with the "Stop The Game" campaign organizing protests against the matches.

Tensions escalated during the game, with players from both teams clashing at full-time. Hallgrimsson remarked that Israel seemed to be attempting to intimidate the Irish team from the outset. He praised his players for maintaining their composure despite the heated atmosphere, which could have resulted in numerous bookings.

In contrast, Israel's head coach Ran Ben-Shimon stated he was unaware of the incident, as he was in his dressing room at halftime. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been approached for comments regarding the investigation, which continues to unfold amid pressure to boycott the matches.