Israel midfielder, Sayed Abu Farhi, was sent off after appearing to make a gun gesture while celebrating his goal in their 3-1 defeat to Austria in the Nations League.
The 20-year-old Colorado Rapids midfielder scored Israel’s equaliser in Linz before using the corner flag to imitate the firing of a gun during his celebration.
According to the BBC, the referee booked Abu Farhi for the gesture, resulting in his dismissal after he had already received a yellow card.
Football’s Laws of the Game permit referees to caution players whose goal celebrations are deemed provocative, derisory or inflammatory.
Austria had opened the scoring through Romano Schmid before Abu Farhi levelled for Israel.
Phillipp Mwene restored the hosts’ lead late in the game, while Sasa Kalajdzic added a third to complete the victory.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of continued controversy over Israel’s participation in international football amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Campaigners in the Republic of Ireland have called for a boycott of the country’s forthcoming matches against Israel, with both fixtures set to be played at neutral venues.
The war began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage, according to Israeli figures cited by international organisations.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported more than 73,000 deaths from Israeli attacks, figures the United Nations has described as broadly reliable.
