In an interview with Spain's "Diario AS", Aouate was asked about the significance of Yom Kippur and some general questions about the prohibitions of the holiday. He added that he understood that playing football in this holiday was not allowed, but stated that if forced to play against Real Sociedad, in a September 2006 match, he would; his comments swirled a huge controversy in Israel with even a member of the Shas party calling for the player to be removed from the national team.