Hallgrimsson addresses spitting allegation after Ireland draw with Israel

Republic of Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he felt his side faced attempts at intimidation during Sunday's 1-1 Nations League draw with Israel, as an allegation of spitting emerged from a half-time confrontation. According to BBC Sport, both Hallgrimsson and Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon said they had not witnessed the alleged incident.

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The match took place without spectators at TSC Arena in Serbia. BBC Sport, citing the Irish Times, reported that Ireland's head of athletic performance, Damien Doyle, alleged that an Israel player had spat at him. Television coverage captured a voice making a spitting allegation as the teams entered the tunnel, but Hallgrimsson did not claim to have seen it himself.

Speaking to Off The Ball in comments reported by the BBC, Hallgrimsson described both matches between the teams as emotionally charged. He suggested the allegation would probably be reviewed, rather than announcing a confirmed investigation or finding. He also praised his players for controlling their emotions during Sunday's game, saying their composure had helped prevent the contest from becoming dominated by disciplinary incidents.

Ben-Shimon said he had been in his dressing room with staff at half-time and would need an opportunity to check what had happened. Separately, when asked whether his players had targeted Ireland midfielder Jayson Molumby, he denied there was anything personal against the West Brom player. Ben-Shimon said he encouraged aggressive play but did not instruct players to injure opponents.

The latest dispute followed a tense Ireland news conference on Saturday. BBC Sport reported that an Israeli reporter asked Hallgrimsson about alleged racism by Irish players in the previous meeting, which Ireland won 3-0 in Hungary. Football Association of Ireland communications manager Kieran Crowley rejected those allegations and ended the conference. The FAI is also investigating whether Ireland forward Adam Idah suffered racist abuse from Israel supporters during that first match in Debrecen.

The two Group B3 fixtures were staged at neutral venues amid calls for Ireland to withdraw because of the Israel-Gaza war. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable, while the FAI chose to fulfil the matches. The teams did not take part in pre-match formalities at either encounter. Sunday's draw concluded their second meeting with the spitting allegation unresolved in the BBC's report and neither coach offering an eyewitness account.