The fine imposed on the Italian football federation by the governing body, FIFA, came after a match on September 5, between the Italian and Israeli team. An official complaint was sent to the FIFA by the Israeli Football Association after fans of the Italian national team spat and made offensive gestures at their rival Israeli supporters.
An £24,000 fine was placed on the football association after FIFA made its investigations into the matter and found the actions of the fans quite offensive.
Two men were however taken out of the Italian section of the stadium by police officers attending the World Cup qualifiers played out at the Sammy Ofer stadium in Haifa and sent out of the premises during the match where Italy beat Israel 3-1. They however were not arrested.
In a statement by the world governing body of football, FIFA, it reiterated that its decision was made on account of the “discriminatory and unsporting conduct by fans." FIFA however did not go into specific details.
The Italian football fans were pictured spitting at the Israeli Jewish supporters, booing during the Israeli national anthem and giving them the Nazi salute at the match between the two countries.
The Italian team, who were one man down for most part of the second half, had to fight a hard fight before coming out victorious in their 1-3 win against Israel during their opening Group G World Cup qualifiers. Fans who use Netbet for football events and betting odds would have seen the live odds head on a rollercoaster ride, with Italy at one time looking closer to Evens against the relative minnows.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off early in the beginning of the second half to bring the Italian team down to 10 men. Goals by Graziano Pelle in the 14th minute, a penalty by Antonio Candreva in the 31st minute and Ciro Immobile in the 83rd minute, were enough to hand the Italian football team victory.
The Israeli team however got a consolation goal in the 35th minute after Tal Ben Chaim lofted a ball over Gianluigi Buffoon, Israeli's goalie.