Israel forward Saied Abu Farchi was sent off moments after scoring his team's equalizer when he used the corner flag in a celebration that appeared to mimic firing a gun during a 3-1 Nations League loss to Austria on Thursday.
Abu Farchi headed Israel level in the 55th minute at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz after Austria had taken the lead through Romano Schmid's first-half penalty.
The 20-year-old then ran toward the corner, pulled the flag from its mount and dropped to one knee. He held the pole across his hand and made a gesture that appeared to simulate firing a weapon.
Referee Georgi Kabakov of Bulgaria showed Abu Farchi a second yellow card for the celebration, just four minutes after booking him for an earlier incident. The forward was consequently sent off, leaving Israel with 10 players with the score tied at 1-1.
Reuters reported that Abu Farchi's celebration appeared to simulate a gun. Other accounts noted that the movement could also have been interpreted as mimicking a billiards or pool cue shot. The precise intent of the gesture was not immediately clear, but the referee judged the celebration worthy of a second caution.
Israel's players protested the decision, but the red card stood.
The dismissal changed the game as Austria increased the pressure against a 10-man Israel side. The hosts finally regained the lead in the 90th minute when Phillipp Mwene finished from Paul Wanner's cross.
Sasa Kalajdzic then added a third goal in the third minute of stoppage time with a close-range finish, sealing Austria's victory.
Austria had controlled much of the match before and after Abu Farchi's dismissal, while Israel struggled to maintain its attacking threat after being reduced to 10 men.
Abu Farchi's goal was his first of the match and came only four minutes after he had been booked. The sequence turned what had been a promising moment for Israel into a major setback, with Austria eventually taking all three points.
The result opened the Nations League campaign for both teams in League B Group 3, which also includes Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland. UEFA lists Israel's next match as a home fixture against Ireland on Sunday, while Austria will host Kosovo the same day.
The defeat left Israel without a point after the opening round, while Austria moved to the top of the group alongside Kosovo on three points.
For Abu Farchi, the night was a striking introduction to senior international football. The Colorado Rapids forward had put Israel back into the contest with a headed equalizer, only to be dismissed moments later for a celebration that became one of the defining moments of the match.