Israeli striker sent off for gun-like celebration in Nations League loss to Austria

2026-09-24 20:38 UTC – 2026-09-25 16:01 UTC

Neutral summary

In a Nations League Group B match played in Linz on 24 September, Israel striker Sayed Abu Farchi equalised against Austria in the 54th minute and then celebrated by pulling the corner flag out of the ground, resting it on his hand and lowering himself to one knee before raising it over his head, a gesture the referee interpreted as miming a gunshot. Referee Georgi Kabakov showed him a second yellow card — his first came two minutes earlier for dissent — and sent him off. Israel played the remainder with 10 men and conceded two late goals, losing 3-1. Farchi, who plays for the Colorado Rapids, and Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon said the gesture was a billiards shot, not a gun, and noted he had celebrated the same way before without punishment. The incident sparked wide debate: Ouest-France and Rzeczpospolita suggest the images support the billiards interpretation, while Daily Mail notes UEFA rules allow a caution for provocative gestures and for removing the corner flag. The controversy has also made Israel's upcoming Nations League matches against Ireland the most talked-about in the competition, according to RBC Sport.

How it was framed

Outlets: 29. Countries: 13. Facts in the shared core: 5.

Publication timeline

2026-09-24 20:38 · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
Israel's Abu Farchi sent off after gun gesture celebration
2026-09-24 21:00 · ТАСС (outlet profile)
Израильского футболиста удалили за празднование, имитирующее выстрелы. Инцидент произошел во время матча Лиги наций между сборными Австрии и Израиля
2026-09-24 21:25 · Le Parisien (outlet profile)
Un joueur israélien exclu après un second carton jaune pour sa célébration jugée problématique par l’arbitre en Ligue des nations
2026-09-24 21:26 · O Globo (outlet profile)
Jogador israelense é expulso por comemorar gol simulando um fuzil. O atacante israelense Abu Farkhi foi expulso após comemorar um gol simulando um disparo de fuzil durante a partida contra a Áustria, pela primeira rodad…
2026-09-24 21:35 · RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Israel's Farchi sent off after gun gesture celebration. Israel forward Saied Abu Farchi was sent off for celebrating his goal against Austria in their 3-1 UEFA Nations League defeat on Thursday by using the corner flag…
2026-09-24 21:35 · RMC Sport (outlet profile)
Expulsé pour sa célébration: l’étrange carton rouge reçu par le buteur israélien Abu Farchi contre l’Autriche. Si Israël a été battu par l’Autriche 3-1 jeudi en Ligue des nations, la sélection israélienne n’a pas été ai…
2026-09-24 21:46 · The Independent (outlet profile)
Israel striker sent off for gun celebration in Nations League defeat to Austria. Saied Abu Farchi was shown a second yellow card during the 3-1 loss to Austria after using the corner flag to simulate a gun during his go…
2026-09-24 22:08 · TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Late goals secure Austrian win after Israel red card for controversial celebration. Austria win other game in Ireland’s Nations League group 3-1.
2026-09-24 22:14 · Metropoles (outlet profile)
Nations League: jogador de Israel é expulso após "dar tiro" em comemoração. Na primeira rodada da Nations League, Israel visitou a Áustria e foi derrotado por 3 x 1 nesta quinta-feira (24/9)
2026-09-24 22:38 · The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)
Soccer: Israel's Abu Farchi sent off after controversial gun gesture celebration. Israel forward Saied Abu Farchi was shown a red card after celebrating his goal against Austria by using the corner flag to mimic a gun,…
2026-09-24 23:00 · Kicker (outlet profile)
Fragwürdiger Torjubel: Kuriose Ampelkarte für Israel-Stürmer Abu Farchi. Österreich hat drei Punkte zum Start der Nations League eingefahren - das dank zweier später Treffer. Nach Abpfiff dominierte aber ein folgenschwe…
2026-09-24 23:05 · Terra (outlet profile)
Israelense simula arma em comemoração de gol, recebe segundo amarelo e é expulso; veja. A seleção da Áustria superou Israel por 3 a 1 nesta quinta-feira, 24, em jogo da primeira rodada ...
2026-09-24 23:20 · Asharq Al-Awsat (outlet profile)
Israel’s Abu Farchi Sent off After Gun Gesture Celebration
2026-09-24 23:40 · Terra (outlet profile)
Jogador de Israel é expulso após comemoração polêmica de gol. Uma comemoração chamou atenção e terminou em expulsão no duelo entre Áustria e Israel, nesta ...
2026-09-25 03:01 · Terra (outlet profile)
Jogador de Israel arranca bandeirinha ao festejar e é expulso. O atacante Saied Abu Farchi protagonizou um episódio bastante incomum e decisivo na Liga das ...
2026-09-25 04:25 · The National (UAE) (outlet profile)
Israeli player sent off for gun celebration in Nations League match
2026-09-25 04:39 · 20 Minutes (outlet profile)
Ligue des nations : Billard ou fusil ? L’Israélien Sayed Abu Farchi expulsé pour une célébration polémique en Autriche. L’arbitre du match de Ligue des nations B Autriche-Israël (3-1) a distribué jeudi soir un deuxième…
2026-09-25 05:09 · Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Israeli football player sent off after gun-firing goal celebration. Israeli footballer Saied Abu Farchi has been sent off during a Nations League match after using a corner flag.
2026-09-25 05:54 · La Nación (outlet profile)
Un futbolista de Israel fue expulsado tras hacer el gesto de un arma de fuego con el banderín de córner. El delantero Saied Abu Farchi vio la roja en el partido contra Austria por la Nations Leagur luego de simular un d…
2026-09-25 06:44 · Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Israel’s Abu Farchi sent off for gun celebration in Nations League match. Israel footballer Sayed Abu Farchi was sent off for goal celebration mimicking shooting a gun in match against Austria.
2026-09-25 06:56 · Осторожно, новости (outlet profile)
Игрока сборной Израиля удалили с поля за празднование гола. Он изобразил стрельбу с помощью углового флажка. В первом туре Лиги наций УЕФА сборные Австрии и Израиля играли на стадионе в Линце. На 54-й минуте нападающий…
2026-09-25 07:00 · Ouest-France (outlet profile)
Ligue des nations. Tir au fusil ou coup de billard ? Un Israélien exclu par l’arbitre pour sa célébration après un but. Abu Farkhi, buteur israélien face à l’Autriche lors de la première journée de Ligue des nations, a…
2026-09-25 07:09 · www.rbc.ru (outlet profile)
Как рядовой матч Лиги наций вызвал международный скандал. Предстоящие матчи между Ирландией и Израилем стали самыми обсуждаемыми и конфликтными в Лиге наций. Что не так с этими играми — в материале «РБК Спорт»
2026-09-25 07:45 · Telegraf (outlet profile)
Izraelac dao gol, pa imitirao pucanje iz puške, sudija mu pokazao crveni karton. Izraelski fudbaler Sajed Abu Farči našao se u centru pažnje na utakmici B divizije Lige nacija protiv Austrije, pošto je samo nekoliko tre…
2026-09-25 08:02 · The Independent (outlet profile)
Israeli striker shown red card over ‘gun celebration’ in Austria match
2026-09-25 08:18 · www.rbc.ru (outlet profile)
Игрока сборной Израиля удалили в Лиге наций за похожий на выстрел жест. Саед Абу-Фархи после забитого гола в матче с командой Австрии вытащил угловой флажок и изобразил с помощью него жест, похожий на выстрел или удар к…
2026-09-25 08:23 · Lenta.ru (outlet profile)
Футболиста сборной Израиля удалили за имитацию выстрела из углового флага
2026-09-25 08:52 · Daily Mail (outlet profile)
Israel footballer pleads his innocence as he's sent off for 'GUN GESTURE' celebration - but little-known rule shows the referee was right. Sayed Abu Farchi was given his marching orders in the second-half of his side's…
2026-09-25 09:05 · Die Welt (outlet profile)
Umstrittene Geste mit Eckfahne – Israels Torschütze sorgt für Wirbel. Israels Stürmer Sayed Abu Farkhi jubelt nach seinem ersten Länderspieltor mit der Eckfahne. Er handelt sich dadurch nicht nur einen dämlichen Platzve…
2026-09-25 09:07 · Rzeczpospolita (outlet profile)
Awantura o gest reprezentanta Izraela po golu. Niektórzy widzą w nim wystrzał. Sayed Abu Farchi, arabski piłkarz reprezentacji Izraela, został wyrzucony z boiska za celebrowanie gola w meczu Ligi Narodów UEFA z Austrią.…
2026-09-25 09:08 · GB News (outlet profile)
Israeli footballer sent off for 'gun celebration' in Nations League clash against Austria. Israeli footballer Sayed Abu Farchi was sent off against Austria in the Nations League for appearing to mimic using the corner f…
2026-09-25 10:07 · TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Israeli player sent off for goal celebration suggests he was mimicking pool, not firing a gun. Sayed Abu Farchi had just equalised for Israel in Linz when he ran to the corner of the pitch, pulled out the corner flag an…
2026-09-25 10:19 · Sputnik (outlet profile)
Футболиста удалили с поля за имитацию выстрела из углового флажка. ВИДЕО
2026-09-25 10:54 · Kurir (outlet profile)
DAO GOL, PA NAPRAVIO HAOS! Izraelac slavio, izvadio zastavicu, pa DOBIO CRVENI! (VIDEO)
2026-09-25 16:01 · Exame (outlet profile)
Jogador de Israel é expulso após comemorar gol de forma 'inadequada' e é chamado e de 'estúpido'. Parte da imprensa internacional sugeriu que o gesto simulava o uso de uma arma

Factual core

Israeli footballer Sayed Abu Farchi was sent off during a match against Austria for mimicking a gunshot while celebrating with a corner flag.
Israel lost to Austria 3-1 in the Nations League match.
Israeli striker Sayed Abu Farchi was sent off during the match against Austria.
The referee issued a red card for the gun celebration.
The player simulated shooting using a corner flag during the celebration.

Full methodology →