Israël confronted with potential UEFA suspension voice as the political pressure takes place

UEFA seems to be ready for an emergency voice about suspending Israel of European competition next week, with national federations that take place to position themselves in the midst of mounting political pressure after calling for action.

The brewing crisis was intensified this week when experts from the United Nations called for the suspension of Israel through international football in the midst of the unfolding genocide in occupied Palestinian territory.

A source confirmed that the European football body could possibly decide next week to vote on whether or not to suspend Israel from European competition.

If UEFA votes to ban Israel, it would put the organization on a collision course with the government of the United States-Gastheren for the World Cup 2026 that is fiercely against such a motion.

«We will absolutely work to try to prohibit the National Soccer Team of Israel from the World Cup,» said a spokesperson for the US Department of Foreign Affairs Sky News.

But although UEFA has the power to suspend Israel or his clubs from their competitions, it may not stop them to compete with qualifications of the World Cup, which fall under the operation of the worldwide body FIFA.

The general secretaries of all UEFA National Associations meet this week in Marbella, where Israel is not officially on the agenda, but officials expect UEFA to call an emergency voice next week.

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FIFA did not respond to a Reuters request to comment while UEFA refused to comment.

Palestinian football club President Jibbril Rajoub said that Israelis should not be allowed to participate in competitions, whether they are under the UEFA or FIFA.

«Israel has violated the principles, values ​​and the articles of association of FIFA. That is why I believe that Israel should be punished,» Rajoub told TV2.

«The sanctions must come from UEFA and FIFA.»

World Cup qualifications

The National Team of Israel will be confronted next month with Norway and Italy, the top two teams in the World Cup qualifying group.

«We have no indications that we are confronted with such an action (UEFA apart),» a spokesperson for the Israel Football Association told Reuters.

«We focus on our international competitions against Norway and Italy.»

Norwegian Omroep NRK reported that the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is one of the members’ associations that has been the driving force behind calling a meeting about the Israeli situation. The NFF refused to comment.

Lise Klaveness, the president of the NFF and member of the UEFA Executive Committee, has also been vocal about the crisis in Gaza prior to the home match of her country against Israel on 11 October.

«Neither we nor other organizations can remain indifferent to humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks to which the civilian population in Gaza has long been subject,» Klavess said in a statement last month.

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«We want to donate the proceeds (from the game) to a humanitarian organization that saves lives in Gaza every day and offers active emergency aid.»

The Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) said it knows nothing about a vote to suspend Israel.

«As soon as the football club receives a message about this, it will take a position,» said the KNVB NOS NOS.

Last week the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Israel should be forbidden for international sports competitions. However, officials of the Spanish FA (RFEF) have kept a low profile.

Israel claims that his war is not against the population of Gaza, but against the militant group of Hamas whose hunters led the attack of 7 October 2023 on Israel that killed 1200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and the war.

According to local health officials, the subsequent war in Gaza killed more than 65,000 people.

Published on September 26, 2025