UEFA leaves door open to ban ‘Israeli’ football teams

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has publicly acknowledged that the participation of ‘Israeli’ clubs and national teams in European tournaments is "a legitimate question".

The remarks, made during an interview with Slovenian media, follow a period of heightened scrutiny and criticism directed at the football governing body.

The pressure on UEFA intensified after the death of Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, which prompted a public query from Liverpool star Mohamed Salah about the circumstances of his killing.

This was followed by UEFA's decision to display a banner at the UEFA Super Cup final reading "Stop Killing Children - Stop Killing Civilians.”

Despite acknowledging the debate, Čeferin defended UEFA's current stance, stating he is "in principle" not in favor of banning athletes from competing.

He drew a comparison to the ongoing ban on Russian teams, noting that after more than three years, the war has only worsened, and argued that other issues should be "resolved differently".

“For now, this is our decision. It is very difficult for me to comment on what could happen in the future,” Čeferin said.

Critics, including a UN special rapporteur and human rights groups, have called UEFA's current policy a "glaring" double standard when compared to its 2022 suspension of all Russian teams and clubs.