Irish Football Association calls for immediate suspension of Israel from UEFA competitions
Members of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) voted overwhelmingly to request that UEFA immediately suspend Israel from all European competitions. The resolution alleges that Israel’s Football Association fails to enforce an effective anti-racism policy and allows Israeli clubs to play in Palestinian territories without consent, both of which violate UEFA statutes. The decision follows previous calls from other national football bodies and UN experts for Israel’s suspension from international football.
Members of Irish soccer’s governing body voted overwhelmingly for its board to request that UEFA immediately suspend Israel from European competitions. The resolution was passed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) following a vote in Dublin.
The resolution, supported by a significant majority (74 votes in favor, seven opposed), alleges that Israel’s Football Association has violated two specific provisions of UEFA statutes. These alleged violations include:
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Failure to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy.
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Allowing Israeli clubs to play in Palestinian territories without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association.
The Irish resolution follows earlier calls for Israel’s suspension from international competition. In September, the heads of the Turkish and Norwegian soccer governing bodies made similar requests.
Those requests came after experts appealed to FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from international football, citing investigators who alleged that Israel had committed serious violations during the recent conflict. Israel has denied these allegations, describing the reports as false and distorted, and pointing out the authors’ history of anti-Israel positions.
It was noted that UEFA had considered holding a vote on Israel’s suspension early last month over the conflict, but the vote did not occur after a ceasefire took effect.
