UEFA is set to suspend Israel from all European competitions as early as Tuesday
Qatar Pushes for Israel’s Expulsion from UEFA Ahead of September 23 Vote

Growing Pressure on UEFA

A major storm is brewing in European football as Qatar is reportedly intensifying its efforts to have Israel suspended from all UEFA competitions. According to Israel Hayom, the Union of European Football Associations is expected to hold a vote on Tuesday, September 23, to decide Israel’s future in European football.

For weeks, speculation has mounted that the question of expulsion would eventually be brought before UEFA’s Executive Committee. Now, with Qatar lobbying aggressively behind the scenes, the issue seems unavoidable.

The Numbers Behind the Vote

Currently, there are 20 members with voting rights on the Executive Committee. Reports suggest that a clear majority already favors Israel’s suspension, with only two or three nations firmly opposed. This leaves Israel’s football authorities fighting an uphill battle to prevent the matter from even appearing on the official agenda.

Israeli football and government officials are working around the clock to build alliances and delay a decision. As one senior official at the Israel Football Association said:

“We are working on this on every front. No one at the association is asleep at the wheel.”

Political Tensions Add Fuel

The push for suspension is not only about sport. The report indicates that Qatari influence has intensified after a failed Israeli strike in Doha, with officials in the Gulf state determined to use their leverage in European football governance.

This places UEFA in a sensitive position: balancing sporting integrity with overwhelming political and diplomatic pressure.

What It Means for Clubs and the National Team

If the vote goes ahead and the suspension is approved, the impact will be immediate and devastating for Israeli football:

  • Israel’s national team would be barred from continuing its qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
  • Israeli clubs, including Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, would be expelled from European competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
  • Maccabi Tel Aviv’s scheduled Europa League opener against PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece on Wednesday could be canceled at the last moment.

Timing Raises the Stakes

The expected vote falls on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, adding symbolic weight to an already tense situation. For many inside Israel’s football and sporting circles, the prospect of starting the new year with an international suspension is seen as a nightmare scenario.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus for Israeli officials is to prevent the issue from reaching a vote. But if it does, insiders admit that the outcome is almost certain: Israel will be sidelined from European football for the foreseeable future.

This unprecedented scenario would mark one of the most politically charged decisions in UEFA history, reshaping not only Israel’s footballing landscape but also the broader conversation about the intersection of sport and politics.

Published by Patrick Jane
21.09.2025