Overview
- In Linz on Thursday, Sayed Abu Farchi scored to make it 1-1 then removed a corner flag and made a gesture that drew a second yellow card from referee Georgi Kabakov and an ensuing red, leaving Israel with 10 men.
- Playing a man down, Israel conceded two late goals and lost 3-1, with reporters and coaches saying the dismissal was a turning point in the match.
- UEFA said the booking was for unsporting behaviour and that the second yellow triggers an automatic suspension for the next game, so Abu Farchi will miss Israel’s match against the Republic of Ireland.
- Accounts differ on the intent of the celebration: some broadcasters and news outlets described it as mimicking a gun while others suggested it looked like a pool or snooker motion, and the player posted an eight-ball emoji after the match.
- Referees can caution players for provocative celebrations and for removing a corner flag under the Laws of the Game, a rule applied here that has intensified public and political attention on Israel’s fixtures during the ongoing Israel–Gaza conflict.