The Israel Football Association has officially appealed to UEFA regarding the refereeing in the UEFA Nations League match against the Austria national team, which ended in a 1:3 defeat for the Israeli side. The main reason for the protest was the controversial dismissal of 20-year-old national team debutant Said Abu Farhi, who received two yellow cards within a few minutes. This episode dramatically influenced the course of the match and sparked widespread resonance in sports circles.
Match chronology and controversial dismissal
The incident occurred during the opening round of the UEFA Nations League. With Austria leading 1:0, young forward Said Abu Farhi managed to score his debut goal for the national team, restoring parity in the match. However, the joy of the Israeli team was marred by the referee's immediate reaction. Match referee Georgi Kabakov of Bulgaria regarded the forward's goal celebration as a provocative action, showing him a second yellow card and leaving the Israel national team a man down.
Contradictory data
The dispute surrounding the episode centers on the interpretation of the player's goal celebration. The Bulgarian referee believed the player took the corner flag and simulated firing a firearm, which violates disciplinary standards. At the same time, the Israel Football Association categorically rejects this version, calling it a complete misunderstanding. Association official Shlomi Barzel emphasized that the first yellow card was erroneous and the second resulted from a misinterpretation: according to him, Abu Farhi always celebrates goals by mimicking a cue strike in snooker. The player's father also defended his son, pointing out an artificial escalation of the scandal due to the player's national affiliation.
Career context and reactions of the parties
For 20-year-old Said Abu Farhi, this match was only his second appearance for the country's main team (previously he played only in a friendly against Albania). At the club level, the young forward joined MLS club Colorado in early September, and before that spent two years defending the colors of Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring 15 goals in 52 official matches. The Israeli side intends to seek justice through official UEFA channels, pointing to bias and erroneous decisions by the referee on the pitch.
