UEFA to vote on Israel suspension from all European competitions amid Gaza crisis

UEFA’s executive committee is set to vote Tuesday on whether to suspend Israel’s national team and club sides from all European competitions.

Qatar is reportedly leading a push to bring the motion to a vote, lobbying UEFA members over the past week to secure a majority.

Only a handful of countries are reportedly opposing the measure, with most members favoring Israel’s removal. Meanwhile, the Israel Football Association has been actively lobbying UEFA officials and using diplomatic channels to prevent the issue from reaching a vote.

Former French football player Eric Cantona looks on prior to the football and rugby union "Match des Legendes" at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southeastern France, on September 26, 2022. (AFP Photo)

High-profile calls for suspension

Former Manchester United star Eric Cantona has urged FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel from international football, drawing comparisons to Russia. Cantona referenced UEFA’s 2022 suspension of Russian teams following the invasion of Ukraine, noting that the ban remains in effect and has prevented Russia from participating in the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking at the “Together for Palestine” concert at Wembley’s OVO Arena, which featured musicians Damon Albarn, Bastille, and PinkPantheress alongside actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Cantona said: “Four days after Russia started the war in Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia. We are now 716 days into what Amnesty International has called a genocide. And yet, Israel continues to be allowed to participate.”

https://x.com/MoSalah/status/1954215423861240020

The debate has also drawn attention from players. Former Palestinian national footballer Suleiman al-Obaid was killed in Gaza while waiting for humanitarian aid. UEFA posted a tribute but did not mention the cause of death or the Israeli airstrike responsible. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt) challenged UEFA directly on X (formerly Twitter), asking:

“Can you tell us how, where and why he was killed?”

Salah’s post went viral, receiving over 100 million views and more than 1 million likes, sparking widespread discussion about UEFA’s neutrality and the role of athletes in political discourse.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin speaks during a press conference after the 49th UEFA Ordinary Congress held at the Sava Centar congress centre in Belgrade on April 3, 2025. (AFP Photo)

UEFA’s position

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has defended the decision not to ban Israel, arguing that athletes should not be penalized for government actions. In an interview with Politico, Ceferin said: “What can an athlete do to their government to stop the war? It’s very, very hard. The ban for Russian teams has lasted three and a half years. Did the Ukraine war stop? It didn’t.”

Italy’s and Israel’s players argue after the end of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Europe zone Group I soccer match in Debrecen, Hungary on Sep. 8, 2025. (AFP Photo)

Continued participation amid controversy

Despite the ongoing debate, Israel continues to participate in international football. The national team recently lost 5-4 to Italy in a World Cup qualifier, while Maccabi Tel-Aviv will compete in this year’s UEFA Europa League, including a November match in England against Aston Villa.

Players of Spain celebrate after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group E second match between Türkiye and Spain, Konya, Türkiye, Sept. 7, 2025. (AA Photo)

Spain raises possibility of World Cup boycott

Spanish officials have indicated that their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, could be contingent on Israel’s inclusion. Patxi Lopez, spokesman for Spain’s Socialist Group in Congress, suggested a potential boycott, linking the political situation in Gaza to Spain’s sporting commitments.

Lopez condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing the violence as genocide: “Seeing children killed, people shot while searching for food because they are starving to death, cities destroyed … or seeing an entire people wiped out — that’s genocide,” he said.

Sporting sanctions through history: Lessons for UEFA-Israel debate

The discussion over Israel’s potential suspension from UEFA competitions is not an isolated case. International sport has a long tradition of imposing sanctions on countries due to political, ethical, or humanitarian concerns. Examining historical precedents helps contextualize current debates and shows how global sporting bodies balance fairness, diplomacy, and accountability.

Historical precedents: Sport meets politics

• 1920 Antwerp Olympics: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Türkiye were excluded due to their roles as Central Powers in World War I. These nations faced political isolation, and their Olympic bans reflected the broader international effort to punish the defeated powers.
• 1948 London Olympics: Germany and Japan were barred as a consequence of their wartime aggression in World War II. Both countries were later reintegrated (Germany in 1952, Japan in 1956) once the international community deemed them politically and socially rehabilitated.
• 1964–92 South Africa: Apartheid policies led to a 28-year Olympic ban. This sanction demonstrated how sport could act as a tool of moral and political pressure, isolating a regime for systemic human rights violations. South Africa returned to international competition only after apartheid officially ended.
• 1972 Munich Olympics – Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe): The IOC excluded Rhodesia because of its white minority rule and racist domestic policies. African nations successfully lobbied for the exclusion, emphasizing the role of solidarity and political advocacy within international sport.
• 2000 Sydney Olympics – Afghanistan: Taliban restrictions on women’s participation in sports led to Afghanistan’s suspension. This highlights how internal governance and human rights violations can directly influence eligibility in global competitions.

Contemporary suspensions: Maintaining accountability

• Russia – State-sponsored doping (2019–23): The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) uncovered state-backed doping, leading to bans from Olympics and World Championships. Russian athletes competed under a neutral flag without national symbols, showing that sports bodies aim to punish governments while minimizing the impact on individual athletes.
• Russia and Belarus – Ukraine War (2022–present): Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian and Belarusian national and club teams. The IOC allowed athletes to compete under a neutral status at the 2024 Paris Olympics. These measures underline how military aggression can trigger comprehensive sporting sanctions.
• Kuwait (2015–16): IOC suspended Kuwait due to governmental interference in the national Olympic Committee. Athletes were permitted to compete under the Olympic flag, demonstrating a focus on separating politics from individual athletes’ opportunities.
• Indonesia – FIFA (2015): FIFA temporarily suspended Indonesia’s football federation due to government meddling, barring national teams from international matches.

Football-specific bans: National and club levels

• Yugoslavia – EURO 1992: Excluded because of U.N. sanctions amid the Balkan conflicts. Denmark replaced Yugoslavia and went on to win the tournament, illustrating how geopolitical crises can directly reshape competitions.
• Afghanistan – FIFA (2001): Suspended under Taliban rule due to restrictions on female athletes and governance issues; reinstated after the regime change.
• Russia – FIFA & UEFA (2022–present): Excluded due to the Ukraine war, affecting both club and national competitions. Russian teams cannot participate in 2026 World Cup qualifiers or UEFA tournaments.

September 20, 2025 04:24 PM GMT+03:00