The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is preparing for a vote that could suspend Israel’s membership due to the ongoing war in Gaza, according to sources close to the situation who spoke with The Associated Press on Thursday.
Multiple sources indicated that a majority of UEFA’s executive committee members are likely to support the suspension of Israeli teams from European competitions if the matter comes to a formal vote.
Executive Committee Support Building
UEFA’s 20-member executive committee appears to be leaning toward supporting the suspension measure. The committee, which governs European soccer’s governing body, holds significant power in determining which national federations can participate in UEFA-organized competitions.
The potential suspension would affect Israeli national teams and club sides that regularly compete in tournaments like the European Championship, Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
“A majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee is expected to support any vote in favor of suspending Israeli teams,” one source told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deliberations remain private.
Political Context
The move comes amid growing international pressure on Israel regarding its military operations in Gaza, which began following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and a humanitarian crisis in the region.
UEFA’s potential action follows calls from various groups for sporting bodies to take a stance on the conflict. Similar discussions have occurred in other international sports federations, though UEFA would be the first major sports body to take such significant action.
Implications for Israeli Soccer
If implemented, a suspension would have far-reaching consequences for Israeli soccer at both club and national levels. Israeli teams would be barred from participating in all UEFA competitions for the duration of any suspension.
This would affect:
- The Israeli national team’s participation in UEFA tournaments
- Israeli clubs competing in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League
- Youth and women’s teams in their respective European competitions
The timing of the potential vote remains unclear, though sources suggest it could happen at an upcoming executive committee meeting. UEFA has not yet made any public statement regarding the matter.
This would not be the first time politics has affected UEFA membership. The organization previously suspended Russian teams following the invasion of Ukraine, setting a precedent for action based on military conflicts.
The Israeli Football Association would likely have the right to appeal any suspension decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has previously ruled on similar cases involving sports governance and political situations.
As the situation develops, the soccer world watches closely to see if one of the sport’s most powerful governing bodies will take this unprecedented step against one of its member associations.
