UEFA is reportedly set to make a decision next week on whether Israel will be suspended from European competition. There have been calls for the continental governing body to take action amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. A UN Commission of Inquiry has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to conclude that Israel is committing genocide in that region. Sporting institutions are now being urged to take action.
GettyTalks held within UEFA ahead of committee vote
Russia has been banned from European football since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, so there a precedent has been set. According to , UEFA will finish its deliberations within the next seven days. It is claimed that “a large majority of executive members and federations are in favour of suspension”. Talks at the highest level of UEFA have been held this week, with a decision needing to be made on how best to handle the situation heading forward.
A banner was organised by European football’s governing body at the Super Cup clash between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League title holders Tottenham in August, with that reading: “Stop Killing Children, Stop Killing Civilians.” UEFA is now expected to make its stance clear on the global stage.AdvertisementSpain threaten to boycott 2026 World Cup
The Times has already reported on how “several European clubs had asked UEFA if there was any way they could avoid playing Israeli opponents”. Maccabi Tel Aviv are the only Israeli side involved in UEFA competition this season, with Aston Villa due to host them in a Europa League fixture on November 6. Protests were staged when Maccabi travelled to Greek side PAOK in Thessaloniki on September 24.
It has also been revealed that Spain are considering boycotting next summer’s World Cup finals if they qualify alongside Israel. Patxi Lopez, the spokesperson for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, has said: “We will assess the situation at the right time. What we want is for people to realise that if Israeli teams cannot take part in sporting events or Eurovision, some are starting to open their eyes. Because ours are wide open and do not tolerate what they see, which is why we cannot and will not remain silent.”
Getty ImagesCalls from United Nations to take action
Any sanctions imposed by UEFA would pave the way for FIFA to follow suit, with world football’s governing body said to be in a difficult position due to the close relationship enjoyed by Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House would be unhappy to see Israel expelled from a tournament that the United States will be co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico – with a department spokesperson telling Sky News: “We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup.”
The United Nations Human Rights Office has, however, urged UEFA and FIFA to “suspend Israel as a country team from international football, as a necessary response to address the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory”.
Experts went on to say: “Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual. Sporting bodies must not turn a blind eye to grave human rights violations, especially when their platforms are used to normalise injustices. We are clear that the boycott must be addressed to the State of Israel and not to individual players. We have always maintained that individuals cannot bear the consequences of the decisions their government makes, so there should be no discrimination or sanctions against individual players because of their origin or nationality. National teams representing states that commit massive human rights violations can, and should, be suspended, as has happened in the past.”
Where Israel sits in World Cup qualification table
A UEFA ban would effectively end any hope Israel has of securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup as their remaining fixtures could not be completed. They currently sit third in UEFA qualification Group I behind Norway and Italy. Russia were removed from the play-off picture ahead of the 2022 World Cup, while Portugal replaced them at the Women’s European Championship.
The UEFA committee is now ready to vote, following two years of pressure from the Palestinian FA – which is recognised by FIFA – and a definitive ruling should be delivered in a matter of days.
