Israel seeks to avert Qatari-led UEFA vote on ban from European soccer

The Israel Football Association (IFA) is reportedly working to prevent a vote on Tuesday that could potentially ban Israel from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Israeli Channel 12 and the news outlet Israel Hayom reported that Qatar, one of the largest donors to European soccer, is reportedly the force behind the efforts to expel Israel from UEFA following Israel’s recent aerial strike on Hamas’ political headquarters in the Qatari capital Doha. Due to its considerable financial clout, Qatar is reportedly pressing the UEFA to hold a vote on Tuesday on Israel’s continued participation as a member. 

“We are working on it on all fronts,” an unnamed senior Israel Football official told Israel Hayom. Israel is reportedly facing considerable challenges. Only two or three of the 20 European voting nations are reportedly strongly opposed to expelling Israel from UEFA. Israeli officials are cautiously optimistic that friendly countries like Hungary and Germany will prevent the vote from taking place on Tuesday. 

However, there is currently confusion due to contradictory statements. An IFA spokesperson declined to confirm the reports and hinted to the Times of Israel news outlet that they are not necessarily accurate. This viewpoint is further strengthened by the fact that UEFA’s own website lists its next executive council meeting for Dec. 3 and not this week. 

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Israel and Israeli national and club teams have traditionally participated in European competitions due to an ongoing boycott against Israeli teams in the Middle East region. Shlomi Barzel, the head of the communication for the IFA, warned that expulsion from European competitions would constitute “almost a deathblow to Israeli soccer.”

“I’m surprised we’re still part of international tournaments. In many aspects, this is a miracle,” Barzel said in a recent interview with the Israeli business daily Globes. He added that “historically, countries have been suspended for much less.”

“My estimation is that we will finish the current national teams event, but one more troublesome incident in Gaza, and everything can end in an instant,” he assessed. Barzel warned that if a “free cote” had been held at UEFA or FIFA soccer federations, “we wouldn’t have survived it.”

Following the strike on a villa in Doha where top Hamas leaders convened, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani condemned Israel as the “enemy” and accused Israel of conducting state-sponsored “terrorism” against Qatar. 

“Qatar reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary measures to respond,” Al Thani stated without specifying how the tiny Gulf state would respond. 

“Qatar today was subjected to an Israeli terrorist attack aimed at undermining stability and security in the region. We have reached a critical moment, and there must be a response to these actions,” the Qatari leader vowed.

Israel is also facing growing international condemnation for the Gaza War, which began when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and massacred 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists and their allies also kidnapped 251 people from Israel. Some 48 hostages remain in Gaza after nearly two years of war. Up to 20 of the remaining hostages are still believed to be alive, but their lives are increasingly at risk.

Last month, the UEFA held a banner, “STOP KILLING CHILDREN. STOP KILLING CIVILIANS,” aimed at Israel during the Super Cup final. 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Israeli official blasted UEFA, accusing the association of siding with Hamas against Israel. 

“This is UEFA’s hypocrisy – they completely ignored the massacre, rape and murder of children in Israel,” the official said. 

“They’ve taken a side, and this is just the first step,” he continued. “This is the start line. Where were they on October 7?”