Israeli Player's Father Claims Red Card Was Due to Nationality

The father of Israeli national team forward Sayed Abu Farhi believes his son's red card during a recent match was a result of his Israeli nationality. Sayed Abu Farhi was sent off after celebrating a goal against Austria in the UEFA Nations League. His father, Mohammed Abu Farhi, told Sport 5 that a player from England celebrated similarly against Spain without penalty, suggesting a double standard.

Mohammed Abu Farhi expressed his disappointment, stating that his son was very excited about scoring for the national team, a lifelong dream. He emphasized that Sayed has a history of similar celebrations without issue and has never received two yellow cards in the same game. He asserted, "It is clear he received a red card because he is Israeli, there is no dispute about that." He added that his son is very sorry for leaving the team with ten players for nearly 40 minutes.

Regarding his son's decision to represent Israel, Mohammed stated that Sayed grew up in Israel, has friends from all over the country, and advanced his career thanks to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He also touched on the sensitivity of celebrations outside Israel, noting that he had expected the Football Association to provide players with guidelines to avoid potentially controversial gestures.

Mohammed also discussed Sayed's adaptation to his new club in Colorado, USA, in Major League Soccer (MLS). He and Sayed's mother visited him and found him adjusting well to a new environment, expressing confidence in his ability to succeed. The family consulted with other Israeli players in MLS and were impressed by the facilities and coaching, believing the league is developing positively. They hope Sayed will play in MLS for several years before potentially moving back to Europe.