After Israel vs Italy, Donnarumma at the center of controversy

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·11. September 2025

After Israel vs Italy, Donnarumma at the center of controversy

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The return leg will be played on October 14 in Udine, and it already promises to be tense.

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After Israel vs Italy, Donnarumma at the center of controversy

The World Cup 2026 qualifier between Israel and Italy, held in Debrecen (Hungary), ended amid a charged and electric atmosphere.

At the final whistle, tempers flared on the pitch, nearly leading to a brawl, and it took Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso stepping in to restore order. Israeli media quickly focused their attention on Italian goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma, who recently transferred to Manchester City, accusing him of provoking and insulting the Israeli squad throughout the match.

JUST IN: Israel have accused Gianluigi Donnarumma of taunting their players during their World Cup qualifier against Italy. Donnarumma ‘mocked the Israeli national team players’ after the game and ‘it took the intervention of his teammates to prevent matters from escalating’.
– Dienstag, 9. September 2025

Israeli captain Eli Dasa explained:

They were very emotional, trying to provoke us, but we kept our focus. We deserved the win.

Israeli head coach Ben Shimon also confirmed that his team felt insulted throughout the match. According to some reports, members of the Italian delegation apologized in the locker room after the final whistle.

Los sionistas de Israel acusan al portero italiano Donnarumma de no respetar el himno de Israel y de burlarse de sus jugadores después de ganar el partido. "Hace poco me convertí en padre y me duele ver esas imágenes con niños", dijo sobre el genocidio a Palestina. Uno di noi.
– Mittwoch, 10. September 2025