Sky News reports that Israeli journalists were barred from a media call held after the Republic of Ireland's match against Israel. The broadcaster did not say who organised the call or give a reason for the exclusion. The game, played on Monday, finished 1-1.
The fixture was marked by several disputes. According to the BBC, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said Israel "tried to intimidate us" during a row over spitting. The Journal reported that an allegation of spitting against an Israeli player has been added to a series of controversies involving the two teams. The Guardian reported that Hallgrimsson called on UEFA to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future meetings after the bad-tempered draw. RTE.ie described the match as one Ireland will have been glad to see end.
The result leaves both sides with a point from the meeting. The exclusion of Israeli reporters from the media call is the latest development in a fixture that produced friction on and off the pitch, though Sky News has not provided further detail on how the decision was made or by whom.
Attention now turns to whether UEFA responds to Hallgrimsson's request that the two nations be kept apart in future draws and fixtures, and to any review of the events surrounding the match.
