Introduction to the Situation
The management committee of the European Football, UEFA, is reportedly considering reducing Israel’s suspension. According to recent reports, a majority in the UEFA Executive Committee are willing to support suspension. This decision comes after a group of experts, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, accused Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip. UEFA has not yet made an official explanation, but a vote could take place in the next week.
Role of Qatar in the Suspension Efforts
Media reports indicate that Qatar plays a central role in the efforts to suspend Israel. The Emirate has been intensively trying to find a majority in the UEFA Executive Committee in favor of the suspension of Israel for weeks. The pressure increased after an Israeli air raid on Hamas goals in Doha on September 9th.
Reactions from European Countries
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has repeatedly criticized Israel and proposed ruling out its athletes. Spain and Ireland even demand the suspension of the European Union’s association contract with Israel, although they are almost alone in this position within the block. The German Football Association (DFB) has not yet commented publicly, but it and the German government have a history of maintaining close relationships with Israel. However, media reports indicate that DFB Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke, a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, belongs to a large majority in favor of the suspension of Israel.
Sporting Consequences of a Suspension
If Israel is suspended, the national team would be ruled out of continuing their qualification campaign for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next summer. The team is currently in group I of the European qualification of third parties. The next planned games of Israel are in Norway and Italy in October. Israeli clubs would also be excluded from international competition. Currently, only one Israeli club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, is involved in Europe – in the Europa League. Due to the tense security situation, the team is currently not allowed to play their home games in Israel and has been playing their Europa League games in Serbia, while the national team played in Hungary.
Pressure on Other Sports Associations
If UEFA excludes Israel, this would increase the pressure on other sports associations such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, the IOC has so far failed to accept sanctions against Israel, arguing that the NOC in Israel, in contrast to the Russian National Olympic Committee (NOC), did not violate the Olympics Charter.
Israel’s Supporters
Israel has a powerful ally in the United States, the main host of the World Cup 2026. US President Donald Trump emphasizes the attempt to complain about Israel. "We will absolutely work to end all efforts to try to ban the Israeli national ball team of the World Cup," said a spokesman for the US State Department. It is also believed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is closely connected to Trump, opposes the idea. The Israeli FA was cited as describing the demands to suspend Israel as "pathological anti-Semitism".
Precedence
There have been instances in the past where countries have been suspended from international sports competitions. Russia was suspended by FIFA and UEFA within days after the start of its full invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 1992, Yugoslavia was excluded from the European Championship in Sweden in view of the wars that tore apart the country – and the already imposed UN sanctions. South Africa was banished for decades during the Apartheid era from World Sports. The sports boycott contributed to the international isolation of the regime. After the Second World War, Germany was excluded by all international sports organizations for several years. However, suspension was not expressly due to the Holocaust committed by the German Nazi regime.
Geopolitical Consequences
Without Israel, a strong political signal would be sent – comparable to the boycott of Russia, but probably with even greater moral weight because it is not accused of starting an invasion, but of generating genocide. This would also lead to diplomatic tensions, especially among the United States. Arab and Muslim countries that support the exclusion, some of which generally do not recognize the state of Israel’s existing right, would not see this as a success.
