Israel Player Scores Equalizer, Then Gets Red Card for Celebration

Sayed Abu Farchi scored Israel's equalizer against Austria on Thursday, bringing the score to 1-1. The Israeli team faced a strong Austrian squad that had previously competed against Spain and Argentina in the last World Cup. Immediately after scoring, Abu Farchi was sent off in the 55th minute for celebrating with a corner flag, having already received a yellow card earlier in the match. This marked Abu Farchi's first goal for the Israeli national team. International referee Georgi Kabakov issued the red card after Abu Farchi violated the rules by celebrating excessively. Abu Farchi remained on the field for a period after the incident, with team captain Dor Peretz attempting to persuade Kabakov to reverse the decision. The Israeli team's staff defended Abu Farchi's actions, stating, "This is a regular celebration for Abu Farchi. An absurd whistle." They emphasized that the player had already been cautioned with a yellow card prior to the goal.