Israeli football fans have been accused of directing racist monkey chants at Republic of Ireland player Adam Idah and chanting military slogans during a UEFA Nations League match. The incidents occurred on Sunday during the match where Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in Debrecen, Hungary.

Adam Idah, a 25-year-old Ireland international with Nigerian heritage, was the target of monkey chants, as evidenced by videos circulating on social media. Despite these allegations, the fans' behaviour has not led to any disciplinary action from UEFA, European football's governing body.

One Israeli supporter was also filmed leading chants about the country's military in the stands, seemingly as a way to deflect from the team's poor performance on the field. Al Jazeera has sought comment from UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) regarding the incidents and potential sanctions.

Reports from Irish media indicate that UEFA acknowledged the occurrence of racist abuse by Israeli fans toward Idah. However, the governing body stated that an investigation could not proceed because the proper protocols were not followed by Irish players and officials. According to an FAI spokesperson, Ireland midfielder Jayson Molumby alerted the referee and fourth official to the alleged monkey chants before halftime.

A UEFA delegate reportedly informed the FAI that an investigation was precluded because Molumby had not explicitly mentioned racism to the officials and they had not personally heard the chanting. The allegations of racism emerged amidst calls for a boycott of the match, which had garnered international attention.

In a video shared online, Youseph Haddad, identified as a member of an Israeli right-wing party and a candidate in upcoming Israeli parliamentary elections, was seen with other supporters chanting military slogans. Haddad stated in the video, "Yes, we lose in football, but where we don’t lose... Israeli forces. So maybe the football Irish team beat us on the football field, but they will never, ever break the Israeli spirit."

It remains unclear whether chants referencing the Israeli military would be classified as "negative behaviour" under UEFA's regulations governing spectator conduct. The match itself was politically charged, with Ireland securing a decisive 3-0 victory over Israel.

UEFA's protocols for addressing racist incidents in football require specific reporting procedures. The FAI's adherence to these procedures, or lack thereof, has become central to the decision not to pursue disciplinary action against the Israeli fans, despite the visual and auditory evidence presented on social media.