FAI passes vote to call for UEFA to ban Israel from European competition
The resolution was proposed by Dublin club Bohemians and co-signed co-signed by Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Cork City, PFA Ireland, supporter groups and student leagues. Delegates voted 74 in favour, seven against and two abstentions.
A Bohemians statement said: “Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed 344 footballers – more than the full squads of the League of Ireland Premier Division combined. At least 10 children from the Gaza Football Academy have also been murdered. No country should be above the rules and statutes of Uefa – Israel must be held to account.”
The Irish motion to UEFA is based on their claims the Israel Football Association (IFA) has failed to implement and enforce an anti-racism policy alongside the long running complaint already before FIFA that Israeli settler clubs are being organised in occupied Palestinian territories but playing in Israle’s leagues without the consent of the Palestinian FA.
FIA president Paul Cooke said they would still play official competition matches against Israel as long they remain a member of UEFA.
“Straight off the bat, we would play them, provided it was part of a UEFA competition, we are members of UEFA,” said Cooke.
Europe’s football associations have increasingly become uncomfortable with Israel’s slaughter of civilians in Gaza and destruction of infrastructure.
Last month the UEFA executive committee was expected to debate whether the Israeli FA should go before a UEFA member vote to keep their European competition status, but with the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza the discussion was never progressed, with the exco preferring instead to adopt a wait and see approach.
Despite this UEFA member nations have still been uncomfortable hosting the Israeli national team for World Cup qualifiers with both Italy and Norway indicating that, given the choice, they would not fulfil fixtures. Israel cannot now qualify for the World Cup and have just one fixture left to play against Moldova next weekend.
In August UEFA made a powerful statement ahead of the kick off to the European Super Cup final between PSG and Tottenham, unfurling a giant pitch banner with the message ‘Stop killing children, stop killing civilians’. While no nations were mentioned, the sentiment was pretty clear and that it was aimed at Israel and Russia.
Scotland say they have no choice but to play Israel
Scotland’s women’s team called for a boycott of their Nations League games against Israel after the UEFA draw last week. The Nations League will determine the groups for 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying.
Their call for a boycott has been rejected by the Scottish FA that said it is “acutely aware of the suffering and devastation experienced in Gaza.
“We are not insulated from the emotional weight of that reality, nor immune to the moral urgency expressed by the supporters, campaigners and wider civic society across Scotland who have been in touch following the Scotland Women’s National Team being drawn against Israel in the forthcoming World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.”
The SFA said that as a member of UEFA they do no have “discretion to choose who they will or will not play against, which is why we are obliged to fulfil our fixtures.
“Indeed, to refuse to play would forfeit both matches and negatively impact the prospects of our women’s national team.”
Individual players can, of course, choose not to be selected on moral grounds.
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