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Saied Abu Farchi sent off for controversial celebration against Austria
Israeli forward Saied Abu Farchi was sent off during a UEFA Nations League match against Austria after a controversial goal celebration. After scoring an equalizer in the 55th minute, the 20-year-old player grabbed the corner flag and performed a gesture that referee Georgi Kabakov interpreted as mimicking the firing of a weapon.
Abu Farchi had received a yellow card just minutes prior, and the second caution resulted in a red card, leaving Israel with ten men. The dismissal significantly impacted the match, as Austria capitalized on the numerical advantage to score twice in the closing stages, securing a 3-1 victory.
Interpretations of the gesture remain divided. While the referee deemed the action provocative or inflammatory, some reports and social media users suggested the movement was intended to mimic a snooker shot rather than a firearm. The Israel Football Association has filed an official complaint with UEFA regarding the referee's decisions.
Entities
Austria national football team · Georgi Kabakov · Israel national football team · Linz · Raiffeisen Arena · Saied Abu Farchi · Sayed Abu Farkhi · UEFA Nations League