Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Abu Farchi Sent Off After Controversial Goal Celebration
Israel played Austria in a UEFA Nations League match.
Austria scored first with a penalty by Romano Schmid.
Israel’s Sayed Abu Farchi then scored to make the game 1-1.
He celebrated by taking out the corner flag and making a firing gesture.
The referee had already given him one yellow card.
The referee gave him another yellow card for the celebration, which meant he had to leave the game.
Israel then had only 10 players.
Austria scored twice near the end and won 3-1.
Israel’s Sayed Abu Farchi was dismissed against Austria after simulating a gun with the corner flag.
Abu Farchi scored Israel’s equalizer in the 55th minute after Romano Schmid’s penalty gave Austria the lead.
The forward received a second yellow card for the celebration, leaving Israel with 10 players.
Austria scored through Phillipp Mwene and Sasa Kalajdzic late in the match to win 3-1.
Reports differed on whether the gesture represented a weapon or a pool-cue shot, though it was widely described as a gun gesture.
- Who
- Israel forward Sayed Abu Farchi, Austria, and referee Georgi Kabakov were central to the incident.
- What
- Abu Farchi was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a controversial goal celebration.
- When
- The incident occurred in the 55th minute of the UEFA Nations League match on Thursday.
- Where
- The match was played at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz.
- Why
- The referee judged Abu Farchi’s corner-flag celebration, described as simulating a gun, to warrant a second booking.
Gesture Was Intended as a Weapon Simulation
Gesture May Have Had Another Meaning
Meaning of the celebration
Gesture Was Intended as a Weapon Simulation
Reports and descriptions characterized Abu Farchi’s movement with the corner flag as simulating a gun or weapon.
Gesture May Have Had Another Meaning
One report said it was not immediately clear whether the gesture was meant to resemble a weapon or a pool-cue shot.
Sending-off decision
Gesture Was Intended as a Weapon Simulation
The referee showed Abu Farchi a second yellow card because of the controversial gesture, followed by a red card.
Gesture May Have Had Another Meaning
Israel players remonstrated with the referee after the dismissal, indicating disagreement with the decision.
- Match
- Austria defeated Israel 3-1
- Competition
- UEFA Nations League
- Incident minute
- 55th minute
- Israel scorer
- Sayed Abu Farchi
- Austria goalscorers
- Romano Schmid, Phillipp Mwene, and Sasa Kalajdzic
- Disciplinary decision
- Second yellow card and red card for Abu Farchi
- Venue
- Raiffeisen Arena, Linz
