Israel forward Sayed Abu Farhi | Picture Contributed

Austria secured a 3–1 victory over Israel in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, but the match was overshadowed by the sending-off of Israel player Sayed Abu Farhi following his goal celebration.

The 20-year-old Colorado Rapids player brought Israel level in the 55th minute after Romano Schmid had put Austria ahead before half-time. Abu Farhi then ran towards the corner, picked up the flag and appeared to imitate firing a gun.

The referee showed him a second yellow card for the celebration, leaving Israel with 10 players. Football’s laws allow referees to caution players for celebrations considered provocative, derisive or inflammatory.

Austria eventually regained the lead in the 90th minute when Phillipp Mwene scored, before Sasa Kalajdzic added a third goal in stoppage time.

The incident comes amid wider controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in international football, with pressure in Ireland for the national team to boycott its upcoming Nations League matches against Israel. The fixtures are scheduled to be played at neutral venues.

The conflict in Gaza, which began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, according to Gaza health authorities. The figures have been widely cited by international organisations, including the United Nations.

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