In a dramatic turn during their UEFA Nations League Group B, Group 3 encounter against Austria on September 24, Israeli forward Saied Abu Farchi was shown a red card and ejected from the match by referee Georgi Kabakov. The incident occurred following Abu Farchi’s 55th-minute goal, which had initially leveled the score at 1-1.
Immediately after finding the back of the net, the Israeli striker celebrated by running towards the corner of the field and mimicking a firearm with the corner flag. This gesture, simulating a gun, is strictly prohibited by both the European Football Association (UEFA) and the International Football Federation (FIFA), which have long banned war-related or violent celebratory displays.
Referee Kabakov, a Bulgarian official, promptly issued Abu Farchi a second yellow card, which automatically resulted in a red card and his dismissal from the game. The 20-year-old had received his first yellow card just three minutes prior, in the 52nd minute, for a clash with Austrian player Kevin Danso. The swift and decisive action by the referee to send off Abu Farchi for his celebration quickly became a significant talking point and a controversial issue within the match.
Following Abu Farchi’s dismissal, the game’s momentum shifted considerably. Austria ultimately secured a 3-1 victory at the Raiffeisen Arena. Their goals were scored by Romano Schmid in the first half, followed by Phillipp Mwene and Sasa Kalajdzic in the 90th and 90+3rd minutes, respectively, sealing the win against a ten-man Israeli side. The player’s celebratory action and subsequent sending off undeniably impacted Israel’s performance in the crucial Nations League fixture.
