میدل-ایست-آیIreland joins calls to ban Israel from European football
Ireland joins calls to ban Israel from European football
The Irish Football Association says Israel broke Uefa rules by allowing 'settlement clubs' in the occupied West Bank
A demonstrator wearing a t-shirt reading "Red card for Israel" chained himself to the goal post prior to the Uefa Women's Euro 2025 qualifying match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, 31 May 2024 (AFP)
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Ireland has joined a growing number of countries calling for Israel to be banned from European club and international football competitions.
Late on Saturday, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) approved a motion to submit a formal resolution to Uefa, urging the suspension of Israeli clubs and the national team from all European football.
The move followed a proposal from Dublin club Bohemians, which argued that the Israel Football Association (IFA) has breached Uefa rules by failing to uphold anti-racism policies and by allowing the establishment of "clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank" without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association.
During the FAI's meeting, 74 members voted in favour of the motion, with seven against and two abstentions. The association later confirmed the outcome in a statement to Irish media.
"[The FAI will] submit a formal motion to the Uefa executive committee requesting the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from Uefa competitions due to its violation of two independent provisions of the Uefa statutes," the statement read.
Ireland's resolution comes amid similar calls from other Uefa member nations, including Norway and Turkey, to ban Israel from European competitions.
Both countries have cited a UN Commission of Inquiry report that concluded Israel had committed genocide during its war on Gaza.
In September, Uefa postponed discussions on banning Israel following the announcement of a ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas brokered by US President Donald Trump.
At the time, media reports suggested that an extraordinary meeting of Uefa's executive committee was imminent before Trump's intervention.
If Uefa were to vote in favour of banning Israel, it would put the European football body on a collision course with the United States, which is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
However, any European ban would not prevent Israel from competing in World Cup qualifiers, which are overseen by Fifa.
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