Irish football body launches review over alleged racist 'monkey chants' after UEFA refuses to investigate Ireland-Israel clash
The Football Association of Ireland is reviewing footage and audio recordings after an allegation that Irish forward Adam Idah was subjected to racist chanting during Ireland’s 3–0 Nations League win over Israel. The claim emerged after midfielder Jayson Molumby alerted match officials during the game, while UEFA has told the FAI that its own disciplinary process cannot begin because the required reporting procedure was not followed.
FAI review allegations after Molumby raises concern during match
The allegation centres on events during Ireland’s 3–0 victory over Israel at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday.
Idah, who scored Ireland’s second goal, is reported to have been targeted by chants from sections of the Israeli support. The 25-year-old, who was born to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, was said to be unaware of the alleged abuse while the match was taking place.
According to The Irish Times, Molumby heard what he believed were racist chants aimed at Idah before half-time. The Ireland midfielder approached referee Harm Osmers and fourth official Florian Exner and asked them to “listen”, pointing towards the stands.
The officials did not hear chanting that they considered racist and the incident was not formally reported on the pitch as a racial-abuse allegation.
A UEFA match delegate later informed the FAI that the matter could not be investigated through UEFA's disciplinary process because the correct protocol had not been followed. Molumby had not explicitly identified the chanting as racist when speaking to the officials, while the officials themselves had not heard the alleged abuse.
The FAI has since decided to conduct its own review. The association is examining available video and audio footage to establish what was said in the stands and whether Idah was subjected to racist abuse.
Al Jazeera has reported that videos circulating on social media appear to show Israeli supporters directing “monkey chants” towards Idah during the match.
Israeli supporters also filmed military chants after the defeat
The allegations surrounding Idah emerged alongside another incident involving supporters in the Israeli section of the stadium.
Youseph Haddad, who is described in the reporting as a member of an Israeli right-wing party and a candidate for the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, filmed himself among supporters during the match and posted footage on social media.
The video showed supporters chanting about the Israeli military as their team fell to a 3–0 defeat.
“Yes, we lose in football, but where we don’t lose, the IDF [Israeli Defence Force]. We always win,” Haddad said in the video.
“So maybe the football Irish team beat us on the football field, but they will never, ever break the Israeli spirit.”
It is not clear whether the chants about the Israeli military would fall within UEFA's rules on spectator behaviour. UEFA's disciplinary regulations allow sanctions ranging from fines to stadium closures and restrictions on away supporters when national associations are found responsible for prohibited spectator conduct, but such penalties require a disciplinary process.
The match itself had already attracted significant attention before kick-off because of political pressure surrounding Ireland's decision to fulfil its Nations League fixtures against Israel.
The FAI had previously asked UEFA whether Ireland and Israel could be kept apart in future competition draws. UEFA rejected that request, saying such decisions were not based on public sentiment and noting that the countries had never been in direct conflict.
Ireland's players had already taken several symbolic actions
The events in Debrecen came after days of internal discussions within the Ireland squad over whether the fixture should be played.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad after speaking with his teammates and explaining that he did not feel he could participate in the matches against Israel.
“I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle. Therefore, I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel,” Bazunu said.
Ireland ultimately went ahead with the match after discussions between the players and the FAI. The decision came after months of pressure from campaigners calling for the fixtures to be boycotted in response to Israel's war in Gaza.
On the pitch, Ireland's players wore black armbands, with FAI chief executive David Courell saying they were worn in recognition of “all lives lost” in the conflict. The players also bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem and did not shake hands with their opponents before kick-off.
Ireland captain Dara O'Shea did not shake hands with Israel captain Dor Peretz, while reports also said O'Shea had pledged to donate his match earnings to humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The match itself remained one-sided. Troy Parrott opened the scoring, Idah added the second and Jack Moylan completed the 3–0 victory.
Jake O'Brien and Manor Solomon also clashed during the match
The political tension surrounding the fixture spilled into an on-field exchange involving Ireland defender Jake O'Brien and Israel winger Manor Solomon.
Reports said the two players became involved in an angry confrontation during the match, with O'Brien allegedly telling Solomon: “Shame on you for what you’re doing in Gaza. You deserve to lose.”
Solomon responded: “Come out, be a man. Don’t talk behind a wall. It’s a shame the game wasn’t in Israel, you would understand what the best country in the world is.”
Speaking after the match, Solomon declined to repeat what had been said during the confrontation but made clear that the relationship between the two sides had become hostile.
“They said nonsense during the game, I don’t want to comment on them,” Solomon said.
He further added that he held back from saying more because of the possibility of suspension.
“If I say what I think about them I’ll probably be banned for a few games so I don’t want to say, of course they hate us and we don’t like them.”
Solomon also looked ahead to the return fixture.
“I’m already looking forward to the next game against them, it’s going to be completely different.”
He later added: “They (the Irish players) don’t interest me. We have a country ten times better than theirs, stronger, an amazing country with amazing people.”
“We are proud to wear the team shirt and to be Israelis. We are proud of our state and of our soldiers.”
“They can play all their tricks. We are Israelis and love the country. And that will always be the case.”
Ireland's next Nations League match is against Austria at the Aviva Stadium on October 1, while Israel will host Kosovo on the same day.
The return fixture between Ireland and Israel is scheduled for October 4 at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The FAI had moved the nominal home fixture there because of what it described as operational challenges, while Israel have continued to play their home internationals at neutral venues because of security concerns.
FAI review allegations after Molumby raises concern during match
The allegation centres on events during Ireland’s 3–0 victory over Israel at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday.
Idah, who scored Ireland’s second goal, is reported to have been targeted by chants from sections of the Israeli support. The 25-year-old, who was born to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, was said to be unaware of the alleged abuse while the match was taking place.
According to The Irish Times, Molumby heard what he believed were racist chants aimed at Idah before half-time. The Ireland midfielder approached referee Harm Osmers and fourth official Florian Exner and asked them to “listen”, pointing towards the stands.
A UEFA match delegate later informed the FAI that the matter could not be investigated through UEFA's disciplinary process because the correct protocol had not been followed. Molumby had not explicitly identified the chanting as racist when speaking to the officials, while the officials themselves had not heard the alleged abuse.
The FAI has since decided to conduct its own review. The association is examining available video and audio footage to establish what was said in the stands and whether Idah was subjected to racist abuse.
Al Jazeera has reported that videos circulating on social media appear to show Israeli supporters directing “monkey chants” towards Idah during the match.
Israeli supporters also filmed military chants after the defeat
The allegations surrounding Idah emerged alongside another incident involving supporters in the Israeli section of the stadium.
Youseph Haddad, who is described in the reporting as a member of an Israeli right-wing party and a candidate for the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, filmed himself among supporters during the match and posted footage on social media.
The video showed supporters chanting about the Israeli military as their team fell to a 3–0 defeat.
“Yes, we lose in football, but where we don’t lose, the IDF [Israeli Defence Force]. We always win,” Haddad said in the video.
“So maybe the football Irish team beat us on the football field, but they will never, ever break the Israeli spirit.”
It is not clear whether the chants about the Israeli military would fall within UEFA's rules on spectator behaviour. UEFA's disciplinary regulations allow sanctions ranging from fines to stadium closures and restrictions on away supporters when national associations are found responsible for prohibited spectator conduct, but such penalties require a disciplinary process.
The match itself had already attracted significant attention before kick-off because of political pressure surrounding Ireland's decision to fulfil its Nations League fixtures against Israel.
The FAI had previously asked UEFA whether Ireland and Israel could be kept apart in future competition draws. UEFA rejected that request, saying such decisions were not based on public sentiment and noting that the countries had never been in direct conflict.
Ireland's players had already taken several symbolic actions
The events in Debrecen came after days of internal discussions within the Ireland squad over whether the fixture should be played.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad after speaking with his teammates and explaining that he did not feel he could participate in the matches against Israel.
“I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle. Therefore, I feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel,” Bazunu said.
Ireland ultimately went ahead with the match after discussions between the players and the FAI. The decision came after months of pressure from campaigners calling for the fixtures to be boycotted in response to Israel's war in Gaza.
On the pitch, Ireland's players wore black armbands, with FAI chief executive David Courell saying they were worn in recognition of “all lives lost” in the conflict. The players also bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem and did not shake hands with their opponents before kick-off.
Ireland captain Dara O'Shea did not shake hands with Israel captain Dor Peretz, while reports also said O'Shea had pledged to donate his match earnings to humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The match itself remained one-sided. Troy Parrott opened the scoring, Idah added the second and Jack Moylan completed the 3–0 victory.
Jake O'Brien and Manor Solomon also clashed during the match
The political tension surrounding the fixture spilled into an on-field exchange involving Ireland defender Jake O'Brien and Israel winger Manor Solomon.
Reports said the two players became involved in an angry confrontation during the match, with O'Brien allegedly telling Solomon: “Shame on you for what you’re doing in Gaza. You deserve to lose.”
Solomon responded: “Come out, be a man. Don’t talk behind a wall. It’s a shame the game wasn’t in Israel, you would understand what the best country in the world is.”
Speaking after the match, Solomon declined to repeat what had been said during the confrontation but made clear that the relationship between the two sides had become hostile.
“They said nonsense during the game, I don’t want to comment on them,” Solomon said.
He further added that he held back from saying more because of the possibility of suspension.
“If I say what I think about them I’ll probably be banned for a few games so I don’t want to say, of course they hate us and we don’t like them.”
Solomon also looked ahead to the return fixture.
“I’m already looking forward to the next game against them, it’s going to be completely different.”
He later added: “They (the Irish players) don’t interest me. We have a country ten times better than theirs, stronger, an amazing country with amazing people.”
“We are proud to wear the team shirt and to be Israelis. We are proud of our state and of our soldiers.”
“They can play all their tricks. We are Israelis and love the country. And that will always be the case.”
Ireland's next Nations League match is against Austria at the Aviva Stadium on October 1, while Israel will host Kosovo on the same day.
The return fixture between Ireland and Israel is scheduled for October 4 at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The FAI had moved the nominal home fixture there because of what it described as operational challenges, while Israel have continued to play their home internationals at neutral venues because of security concerns.
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