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Italy secured a dramatic 5-4 victory over Israel in 2026 World Cup qualifying Monday, but the thrilling comeback was overshadowed by allegations of sustained verbal abuse and a heated post-match confrontation involving players and coaching staff.
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso sparked controversy after the final whistle when he allegedly confronted 21-year-old Israeli forward Dor Turgeman with profanity. According to reports, Gattuso told the player to "shut your mouth, little s**t" during the heated exchange that required intervention from players on both sides.
The confrontation initially involved Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Israeli players Tai Baribo and Shagiv Yehezkel, before escalating to include Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella. Israeli forward Baribo ultimately stepped between Gattuso and Turgeman to break up the altercation.
Israeli team members accused their Italian counterparts of sustained verbal harassment during the 90-minute contest. "They cursed at us the whole game," several Israeli players told local media, describing a pattern of taunting and provocation that extended beyond the post-match incident.
Israeli captain Eli Dasa characterized the Italian team's behavior as emotionally charged, telling Sport5: "An argument broke out, they were very, very emotional. They felt they were not in the game, and we deserved to win, and they tried to provoke a bit."
Despite Italy's silence on the matter officially, several members of the Italian delegation reportedly apologized to the Israeli team for the behavior of some Azzurri players. The apologies came after the full extent of the verbal abuse allegations became apparent in the aftermath of the match.
Italy's football federation has not issued an official statement regarding the incident or addressed the specific allegations of profanity and unsportsmanlike conduct during what was already a politically charged fixture.
The match, relocated to Hungary for security reasons, was played in front of a largely empty stadium amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Italian supporters turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem and displayed "stop" signs calling for an end to the conflict.
The on-field drama saw Israel lead twice before Italy rallied to take a 4-2 advantage. Two late Israeli goals forced the game into stoppage time, where Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali scored the winner that ultimately triggered the post-match confrontation.
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