Football Association of Ireland Passes Resolution Calling for European Football Ban on Israeli Teams
The Football Association of Ireland has voted in favor to present a formal motion to European football's governing body, demanding the exclusion of Israeli football from continental club and international competitions.
Basis of the Recommended Ban
This motion, that had been proposed by Dublin club Bohemians, cited claimed breaches by the Israel Football Association of two important Uefa statutes.
- Inability to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy.
- Establishment of football teams in occupied Palestinian territories without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association.
Vote Outcome and Future Actions
As stated in an announcement from the FAI, the proposal was supported by 74 votes, with 7 opposed and two not voting.
The association plans to formally submit this request to the UEFA's decision-making body, seeking the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from European tournaments.
During a special assembly of the FAI, an standard motion was posed to members. It passed by a large margin.
Previous Uefa Considerations
The European body had earlier paused plans to exclude Israeli football at the end of September, following the revealing of a US peace proposal for the region.
While they never officially confirmed considering an extraordinary meeting on the issue, plans were understood to be quite advanced.
Global Backdrop
This Irish resolution follows comparable calls in last autumn from the leaders of Turkish and Norwegian governing bodies for Israel's suspension from international competition.
Those requests were issued after United Nations experts asked Fifa and Uefa to ban Israel, citing a UN investigation that claimed Israel of committing genocide during the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli government has rejected these claims and labeled the report as scandalous.
Potential Ramifications
Should European football's authority choose to ban the IFA, it would likely strain relations with the United States government – co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup – which strongly opposes such an action.
Although the European body has the authority to exclude Israel or its clubs from European competitions, it may not be able to prevent them from competing in qualification for the World Cup, which is governed by Fifa.
