Republic of Ireland coach alleges Israel team tried to intimidate players amid spitting accusations

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he felt Israel were "trying to intimidate" his team amid allegations of spitting during Sunday's tense Uefa Nations League draw.

The teams clashed at half-time in the 1-1 draw, played behind closed doors in Serbia, with the Irish Times, external reporting that Republic of Ireland head of athletic performance Damien Doyle alleged he had been spat at by an Israel player.

On television pictures, a voice can be heard saying "he spat on me" as the players made their way down the tunnel at TSC Arena.

"I don't want to get involved in that, but it's been like this these two games. It's tense, it's a lot of emotions," Hallgrimsson told Off The Ball, external when asked about the incident.

"[It] was an accusation of spitting on someone but I didn't see it. No, we don't want to talk about this. This will be reviewed, probably like everything else that's happened between the two teams.

"I felt like they were trying to intimidate us from kick-off but I give a lot of credit to the players to stay calm. It could have been a game of yellow and red cards but we were composed, the players were composed, they did well in controlling emotions."

Asked about the half-time incident, Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he "didn't see anything".

"[At] half-time I was in the dressing room, my room, with my staff," he said.

"I didn't see anything. When I get the chance to check I will get back to you."

Tensions between the sides deepened on Saturday when the Republic of Ireland's pre-match news conference was ended abruptly after Hallgrimsson fielded what he later called a "verbal attack" from Israeli reporters.

Hallgrimsson was asked by an Israeli reporter about alleged racism by Irish players during last week's match in Hungary, which the Republic of Ireland won 3-0.

The news conference was brought to a close at that point by Football Association of Ireland (FAI) communications manager Kieran Crowley, who said those allegations were "completely untrue" as the mood soured.

It followed news that the FAI is investigating whether Republic of Ireland forward Adam Idah was racially abused by Israel fans during the first match in Debrecen.

It is understood that midfielder Jayson Molumby spoke to the match officials during play, asking them to listen out for what he believed to be abusive chanting coming from some of the small number of Israel fans present at the match.

Asked if his players targeted Molumby following the Irish player's complaint last week, Ben-Shimon said "it was nothing personal against" the West Brom midfielder.

"Come on, come on. We don't do it. We just don't do it, we are not men like this," he added.

"It's very difficult to believe us but I will never say to a player to play aggressive against him (an opposing player). Sometimes I don't like this but I say to my players sometimes this is the best way to play the clearest football as you can, but be aggressive.

"I never say to them to injure someone. This is not our way, we are human beings."

The fixtures, both played at neutral venues, have been embroiled in controversy since February when the two teams were drawn to play each other in Group B3.

The Republic of Ireland players have faced persistent calls to withdraw from the games because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war with the "Stop The Game" campaign - organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine - staging protests before and during Thursday's game against Austria in Dublin.

However, while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu said it would be "wrong" for him to participate in the games as he made himself unavailable, the FAI decided to fulfil both fixtures.

The teams did not engage in pre-match formalities in either match, while the Irish players bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.