Sayed Abu Farkhi Red Card: What Happened During Goal Celebration?

During the UEFA Nations League match between Austria and Israel on September 25, 2026, 20-year-old forward Sayed Abu Farkhi received two yellow cards within a four-minute window. Having already been cautioned in the 51st minute, Abu Farkhi headed home an equalizer in the 55th minute to bring the score to 1-1.

The controversial Sayed Abu Farkhi goal celebration occurred immediately after the ball hit the net. Abu Farkhi ran to the corner, pulled the flag out of the ground, dropped to one knee, and used the pole to mimic firing a rifle. Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov issued a second booking, and the decision that saw Sayed Abu Farkhi sent off left the Israel national football team down to 10 men for the final 35 minutes.

Rulebook Breakdown: The IFAB Regulations Applied

Supporters watching the match immediately asked: Why was Sayed Abu Farkhi sent off? The decision is governed strictly by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game under Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct - Goal Celebrations):

• Equipment Misuse: Removing or taking hold of the corner flag to use as an active prop during a celebration is a booking offense.
• Unsporting Gestures: Celebrations featuring provocative, derisive, or violence-simulating actions (such as weapon mimicry) require an automatic yellow card.

To understand why was Sayed Abu Farkhi sent off?, the timing of his bookings is key. Replays of the Sayed Abu Farkhi goal celebration showed the forward using the corner flag as a prop while already carrying a yellow card from the 51st minute, leaving referee Kabakov no choice under IFAB guidelines but to issue a second caution and subsequent red card.

The sequence leading to the Sayed Abu Farkhi red card completely altered the match's tactical dynamics. Playing with 10 men, Israel adopted a defensive structure to hold the 1-1 scoreline. However, the Austria national football team exploited the numerical advantage late in the half, scoring goals in the 90th and 95th minutes to finish with a 3-1 win. In the final match report, the decision that saw Sayed Abu Farkhi sent off stood out as the defining turning point of the fixture. The official match log reflects that the overall momentum broke down following Sayed Abu Farkhi red card, giving Austria control over the closing stages.