A heated argument broke out on the pitch after Italy edged past Israel 5-4 in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Debrecen, Hungary.

 

Israeli players alleged that the Italian team mocked and insulted them throughout the match, sparking tensions after the final whistle.

 

“An argument broke out, they were very, very emotional,” Israel captain Eli Dasa told a foreign media outlet. “They felt they were not in the game, and we deserved to win, and they tried to provoke a bit. It is part of football, so we moved on.”

 

Other Israeli players claimed the incident started with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Tay Brivo, and Shagiv Yehezkel, after the Italian goalkeeper allegedly teased them. “They cursed at us the whole game,” several players said. Reports suggested that some members of the Italian delegation later apologized to the Israelis for their behavior.

 

However, while Israeli media reported that officials from the Italian Football Association had apologized, Italy denied those claims, describing the clash as an “on-field matter.”

 

Off the pitch, Italian fans became immediate social media darlings by turning their backs during Israel’s national anthem and displaying banners that read “Stop", referring to the genocide in Gaza. 

 

The two teams are scheduled to face each other again on October 14 in Udine.