Israelis Direct Monkey Chants and Military Slogans at Irish Football Players

Israeli Football Fans Face Backlash After Nations League Match Against Ireland

A recent UEFA Nations League football match between Israel and Ireland at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, has drawn attention for the behavior of Israeli fans. The team from Ireland won the match 3-0, with Adam Idah scoring a goal.

According to reports, some Israeli fans directed monkey chants towards Idah, who is of Nigerian-Irish descent. Videos circulating on social media show the incident. However, UEFA officials have stated that they cannot investigate the matter due to protocols not being followed by Irish players and officials.

In addition to the chants, an Israeli supporter was filmed leading chants about his country’s military from the stands during the match. The fan, identified as Youseph Haddad, a member of an Israeli right-wing party, made comments in support of Israel’s military during the video recording.

UEFA’s disciplinary regulations outline penalties for national associations whose fans are found guilty of breaking rules, including fines, stadium closures, and bans on away ticket sales. However, it remains unclear whether chanting about the Israeli military would be categorized as “negative behavior” under UEFA’s rules on spectator behavior.

The match itself was a point of contention due to Israel’s recent actions in Gaza, which has led to tensions between Ireland and Israel. The Irish team wore black armbands in support of Palestinians killed during the conflict, while players also bowed their heads during Israel’s national anthem and declined to shake hands with the Israeli team.

The incident has sparked international attention, with calls for boycotts of future matches against Israel. Al Jazeera has reached out to UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for comment on the matter.

Source: Al Jazeera