Sayed Abu Farchi (, ; born 11 May 2006) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids and the Israel national team.
Early life Abu Farchi was born on 11 May 2006 in Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Israel, to an Arab-Muslim family.
Club career Abu Farchi made his senior debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv on 31 August 2023, as a substitute in the 90th minute in a 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying away match against the Slovenian club Celje, that ended in a 2–2 draw.
In February 2024 loaned to Liga Leumit club F.C. Kafr Qasim.
On 1 September 2026, Abu Farchi was sold to MLS side Colorado Rapids for a reported fee of $6 million. He signed a contract through the 2029–30 MLS season with an option for 2030–31.
International career Youth career He was a youth International for Israel, who played for the under-19 national team from 2023 to 2025, and has played for the under-21 national team from 2024.
Senior career During his second cap for the senior Israel national team against Austria in the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League B on 24 September 2026, he was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for celebrating his goal by performing a gesture with the corner flag. This celebration garnered attention due to confusion over whether it simulated a snooker shot or a rifle. Israel national team head coach Ran Ben-Shimon clarified that Abu Farchi always celebrates his goals by imitating a snooker shot, as he had done in the 2026 Israel Super Cup. The Israel Football Association sent an official complaint to UEFA over the referee's decision to send off Abu Farchi, citing "extreme injustice". Shlomi Berl, the Israel Football Association spokesperson, said: "The association today formally filed a complaint regarding the yellow cards shown to Abu Farchi against Austria. We argue that the first yellow card was incorrect and the second resulted from a misunderstanding by the refereeing team. Everyone knows that this is his regular celebration and it mimics a snooker shot".
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMaccabi Tel Aviv2023–24Israeli Premier League10000010–202024–250000001010202025–26317421161–42112026–27110010521285Total3384221133225416Kafr Qasim (loan)2023–24Liga Leumit1340000––134Maccabi Bnei Reineh (loan)2023–24Israeli Premier League3243121––376Colorado Rapids2026Major League Soccer2010–––30Career total801683421332210726
International
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition+List of international goals scored by Sayed Abu Farchi 1. 24 September 2026 Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria 1–1 1–3 2026–27 UEFA Nations League B
Honours Source: AiScore
Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel State Cup: 2025–26 Israel Super Cup: 2024, 2026 Toto Cup: 2023–24
See also
List of Israelis
References
External links