Country Votes to Submit Motion Requesting UEFA to Ban Israeli Teams

One country has reportedly voted to submit a motion requesting UEFA to ban Israeli teams from European competitions.

Over the past few months, the participation of Israeli teams in UEFA competitions has been a major talking point.

Since October 2023, more than 70,000 people have reportedly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, following the start of Israel's war on Palestine.

Israel's attack on Gaza since then was declared a genocide by a United Nations commission, with Gaza also meeting all three UN criteria for famine.

Since then, there have been calls for Israeli teams to be banned in European football competitions.

Russian teams have been banned from UEFA competitions after they invaded Ukraine.

As reported by The Irish Times, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has voted to submit a motion to suspend Israel from all UEFA competitions.

It has been suggested that the FAI’s Emergency General Meeting voted 74 in favour, seven against and two abstaining, to remove Israeli clubs from European competitions and also stop Israel's national football team from qualifying for major tournaments through UEFA.

A statement read: "The board of directors of the FAI is hereby instructed to and shall, without delay, submit a formal motion to the UEFA executive committee requesting the immediate suspension of the Israel FA (IFA) from UEFA competitions due to its violating two independent provisions of the UEFA statutes."

UEFA have been urged to take action. Image: Getty

As per The Irish Times, the two violations stated by the FAI include 'the organisation of clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association, in breach of Fifa Statutes (Article 73) and Uefa Statutes (Article 5)' and the 'failure' of the IFA 'to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy'.

It has been reported that the FAI will also urge UEFA to publish 'transparent criteria for the suspension or exclusion of member associations to ensure equal treatment of all members'.

Earlier this week, Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv lost 2-0 in the UEFA Europa League against Aston Villa at Villa Park, where no away fans were permitted to enter the stadium.

SPORTbible has contacted UEFA for comment.