UEFA said to reassure Israel no plans to boot country from soccer federation over Gaza war

Illustrative: Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters gather ahead of a Europa League soccer match between PAOK and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in the port city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Wednesday, September 24, 2025. (AP/Giannis Papanikos)
Illustrative: Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters gather ahead of a Europa League soccer match between PAOK and Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in the port city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Wednesday, September 24, 2025. (AP/Giannis Papanikos)

The European soccer governing body has sent a message to the the Israel Football Association (IFA) reassuring it that there are no plans to hold a meeting this week to consider banning Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip, the Ynet news site reports.

The unsourced report comes days after multiple reports that the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), of which Israel is a member, is set to decide in a vote this week on suspending Israel from the organization.

A majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee were expected to support any vote in favor of suspending Israeli teams from international play. Executive members in favor of the suspension are said to point to the ban in place against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in 2022.

It was not clear what caused the change in stance, but Israeli officials were said to have been actively lobbying UEFA to prevent a meeting on a vote.

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