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UEFA opens probe into alleged spitting at Ireland v Israel match in Serbia

UEFA has appointed a disciplinary inspector to investigate an alleged half-time tunnel incident in which an Israeli player is accused of spitting on an Irish coach during Sunday's Nations League match in Serbia.

4 outlets · 1L · 1C · 2R First reported Account updated
Image: Irish Independent
Image: CNA
Image: Al Jazeera
Image: The Jerusalem Post

1 / 4

The story, neutrally told

Left · 1UEFA said on Tuesday that it will open a disciplinary investigation into an incident at the Ireland v Israel Nations League match, played in Serbia on Sunday. Left · 1An Israeli player is accused of spitting on a member of Ireland's coaching staff as the teams left the pitch at half-time. Left · 1In an emailed statement to Al Jazeera, UEFA said an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector had been appointed after reviewing official reports that contained an allegation of an incident in or around the tunnel at half-time, to look into potential misconduct by player(s).

Left · 1The match was played at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola; Al Jazeera reports that tempers flared and words were exchanged on and off the pitch. Left · 1Irish media reported that Ireland's athletic coach Damien Doyle accused an Israeli player of spitting at him after the half-time whistle. Left · 1Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson declined to give details, saying a disciplinary committee would look at it, but said Israel's intention seemed to be to intimidate Ireland and provoke a reaction, and praised his players' composure.

Left · 1Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he was in the dressing room with his staff at half-time and saw nothing, and would respond once he had checked. Right · 1The Irish Independent's headline adds that the Football Association of Ireland is considering a racism complaint.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Al Jazeera leads with UEFA's confirmation of a probe, setting the match as politically charged and giving both coaches' responses.
Emphasis
UEFA's statement and the Irish and Israeli coaches' comments.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention an FAI racism complaint, which the Irish Independent headline reports.
Charged language
“politically charged”
For example
“their politically charged Nations League fixture on Sunday” — Al Jazeera

Centre1 outlet

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right2 outlets

Framing
The Irish Independent headline leads with the UEFA probe and spitting allegations, and adds that the FAI is weighing a racism complaint.
Emphasis
The FAI's possible racism complaint.
Leaves out or plays down
Its headline does not mention the coaches' responses that Al Jazeera reports.
For example
“Uefa probe events at Ireland v Israel game in Serbia amid spitting allegations as FAI mull over racism complaint” — Irish Independent