Nations League: Israel player sent off over gun gesture celebration

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Israel midfielder Sayed Abu Farhi was sent off after appearing to make a gun gesture during his goal celebration in his side’s 3-1 Nations League defeat by Austria.

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The 20-year-old Colorado Rapids player scored Israel’s equaliser in Linz before using the corner flag to mimic shooting a gun.

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As reported by BBC on Thursday, the referee showed Abu Farhi a second yellow card, leaving Israel with 10 men.

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Football’s Laws of the Game allow referees to caution players for goal celebrations that are considered provocative, derisory or inflammatory.

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Austria had taken the lead through Romano Schmid before Abu Farhi’s equaliser. Phillipp Mwene restored Austria’s advantage late in the match, with Sasa Kalajdzic adding a third goal to seal the victory.

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The incident came amid wider controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in international football following the ongoing war in Gaza.

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Campaigners in the Republic of Ireland have called for a boycott of Ireland’s upcoming matches against Israel, with the two fixtures scheduled to be played at neutral venues.

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The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures cited by international organisations.

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Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported more than 73,000 deaths from Israeli attacks, figures the United Nations has said are broadly reliable.

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