Israeli Soccer Player Sent Off After Goal Celebration

Israeli national team player Sayed Abu Farhi was sent off with a second yellow card during a match against Austria on Thursday, immediately after scoring his first goal for the team. The incident occurred when Abu Farhi ran towards the corner flag as part of his goal celebration and mimicked what Austrian media described as a "shooting motion." This action led to his second yellow card, resulting in an automatic red card and ejection from the game. The referee cited Abu Farhi's "defiant or dismissive behavior" as the reason for the booking. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the play and upheld the referee's decision. In protest of the ruling, Israeli coach Ran Ben Shimon was also sent off. The Israeli national team expressed disbelief, stating that the celebration is a regular one for Abu Farhi and calling the referee's whistle "hallucinatory." According to Law 12.1 of the Laws of the Game, goal celebrations cannot be excessive, and while leaving the field of play is not punishable, players can be cautioned for climbing fences, approaching spectators in a manner that causes distress, provocative behavior, or covering their faces.