UEFA is reportedly considering whether to suspend Israel from all European football competitions, a decision that could remove the national team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and expel Maccabi Tel Aviv from the Europa League, where it is set to face PAOK FC this week.
The debate comes amid criticism of Israel over the humanitarian toll of the Gaza war. Protest actions have already appeared in stadiums, with banners calling for Israel’s exclusion despite UEFA’s rules against political messages.
Shlomi Barzel, head of communications for the Israel Football Association, warned that suspension would be ‘almost a deathblow to Israeli soccer,’ adding that in his view, Israel has remained in international competitions ‘for much less’ than what has triggered sanctions against other countries.
