International Manager Calls For Israel to Be Banned From World Cup

An international manager has called for Israel to be banned from competing in the World Cup.

UEFA were due to vote on whether Israel should be barred from competing in their sanctioned competitions this week after a United Nations commission decided that the country's regime was committing genocide in Gaza.

According to Gaza's health ministry, over 60,000 people - including over 17,000 children - have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since October 2023.

Israel's war on Gaza began after Hamas, who run the Gaza strip, invaded Israel and killed around 1,200 people, as well as taking around 250 hostages.

UEFA talks were put on hold after US President Donald Trump announced a peace plan for the Gaza region.

According to The Associated Press, 'a majority' of UEFA's executive committee were planning to vote in favour of suspending Israel before Trump's announcement.

Israel are currently in third place in their World Cup qualifying group, behind Norway and Italy, with the tournament to be co-hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

They sit level on points with second-placed Italy, who occupy the play-off spot, but have played a game more.

The Guardian reported earlier this week that UEFA would have been expected to avoid attempting to block Israel from World Cup qualifying, even if a suspension had been agreed.

That is due to the World Cup being a FIFA-organised competition - with the Trump administration declaring they would attempt to 'fully stop any effort' to prevent Israel from playing in the tournament if they qualified.

"We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel's national soccer team from the World Cup," a US State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport.

Now, an international manager has spoken out about the situation.

Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson says he believes that Israel should be kicked out of the World Cup by both FIFA and UEFA - like Russia were after their invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Hallgrimsson took charge of Ireland in July 2024 (Image: Getty)

Hallgrimsson, who was formerly in charge of Jamaica and Iceland, said (via The Irish Times): "I don't see a difference between FIFA and UEFA banning Russia and not Israel.

"I don't see the difference. I am not speaking on behalf of the FAI [Irish FA] - I just don't see the difference.

"Would I have struggled if they wanted Ireland to play Israel, if they were in our group? Of course we would play. I wouldn't have a problem with that.

"It is an absolute tragedy what is happening there. If FIFA and UEFA are banning one nation for same thing, I don't see the difference."