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