Chaos in Debrecen: Italy Beats Israel but Political Tensions Erupt

September 9, 2025 News
Italy's coach Gennaro (Rino) Gattuso. (Design: Palestine Chronicle)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

A chaotic match in Debrecen saw Donnarumma and Gattuso clash with Israeli players, while Italian fans protested Israel’s assault on Gaza.

The match between Italy and Israel on Monday evening was marked not only by football but also by the political tensions that inevitably emerged.

Italy defeated Israel 5-4 at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, in a chaotic game that saw brawls on the pitch, protests in the stands, and heavy accusations exchanged between the two sides.

The Azzurri, who fell behind twice, fought back to take a 4-2 lead, only to be pegged back to 4-4 before finally sealing victory at 5-4.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was among the most heated: after the match, he clashed fiercely with several Israeli players, particularly Tai Baribo and Sagiv Yehezkel, following an exchange of insults during play.

Italy’s coach, Gennaro Gattuso, was also involved: at first attempting to calm the situation, then engaging in a fiery argument with an Israeli player who allegedly shouted at him, “Educate your players.” Gattuso’s response was brutal: “Shut up, shut up! F**k you, motherfu**er!”.

The Israeli national team, meanwhile, tried to shift responsibility onto the Italians, accusing them of having insulted Israel throughout the match.

Symbolic, at the start of the game, was the protest of more than a hundred Italian fans, who turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem.
 Italian fans also displayed signs reading “Stop,” a clear reference to Israel’s ongoing genocidal assault on the population of Gaza.

The Israeli government had brought to Hungary a delegation of youths who survived a July 2024 bombing in Majdal Shams, in the occupied Golan, an attack attributed to Hezbollah.

This propaganda effort, however, did not distract from the fact that Israel continues to kill hundreds of civilians and children in Gaza on a daily basis.

Highlighting once again the hypocrisy of international football, FIFA has rejected all calls to expel Israel from competitions, ignoring protests from federations, fans, and human rights groups.

Ongoing Genocide

Since reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has continued its bloody aerial bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians.

Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 64,500 Palestinians, with more than 163,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.

In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.

Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court. 

(The Palestine Chronicle)

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3 Comments

  1. “… had brought to Hungary a delegation of youths who survived a July 2024 bombing in Majdal Shams, in the occupied Golan, an attack attributed to Hezbollah.”
    I remember that, and i also recall that it was the deed of a zionist intercepting missile that fell on a stadium. Druze themselves confirmed it and refused to meet zionist officials who came to visit later. As Gattuso called them, these motherf**kers never stop lying. Death to the zionists and whoever stands with them.

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