UEFA Rejects Calls for Israel Boycott Amid Conflict

What’s happening:

Despite a coalition of 12 countries calling for a boycott of the Israeli national football team in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has confirmed that Israel will not be banned from playing in international matches. UEFA Secretary-General, Theodore Theodoridis, made the announcement on Thursday, signaling a decision that separates Israel from the fate earlier assigned to Russia post its invasion of Ukraine.

Why it matters:

The movement against Israel’s participation in world football hoped to see the nation face consequences similar to those experienced by Russia, which was banned by FIFA and UEFA from international football following the invasion of Ukraine. Notably, the sport’s governing body is taking a different approach with Israel, emphasizing the distinctions between the two countries’ situations. By denying the calls for boycott, UEFA is allowing for the continued participation of Israeli players in international games, regardless of the geopolitical controversy.

The push for boycott:

A letter from Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, West Asian Football Federation President, implored the football community to condemn Israel for the alleged atrocities in Palestine and suggested an isolation of the Israeli Football Association from global football until aggression ceased. The standing of the UEFA regarding this matter hence has both cultural and sporting significance in how conflicts are intersected with international sport policies.

Israel’s response:

Moshe Zu-Aretz, head of the Israeli Football Association, dismisses the calls for Israel’s suspension as “cynical and shameless.” In defense of Israel’s role in football, he pledges a “fight against dark forces” to prevent damage to the State of Israel and promises that with the help of “brave and fair friends” at FIFA and UEFA, they would push back against these efforts.

This story was first published on jpost.com.