Israel, football ban looking unlikely: IOC and FIFA unmoved, UEFA cautious | OneFootball

The rumor launched yesterday by The Times about the possible suspension of Israel from UEFA competitions has shaken the world of European football. However, twenty-four hours later, denials and signs of caution are mainly coming from Nyon.

Israel, suspension from football increasingly unlikely: IOC and FIFA not open, UEFA cautious

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there are no imminent meetings of the UEFA executive committee scheduled at UEFA headquarters. This is an implicit denial of the British newspaper’s claims, which spoke of a decision as early as next week.

In any case, even if UEFA wanted to proceed with the suspension of Israel, the chances of success would be slim. The European body, in fact, is subject to the authority of FIFA and the IOC, which at the moment do not seem willing to endorse such drastic measures.

The role of FIFA and the IOC

FIFA maintains very close relations with the United States, the upcoming organizers of the 2026 World Cup, and would hardly give the green light to a suspension that would also have political repercussions. The IOC, for its part, has already clarified that it does not see any violations of the Olympic Charter by Israel, making any punitive decision even more complicated.

Hypothetical scenarios and possible appeals

What would happen if UEFA decided to act independently? In theory, Maccabi Tel Aviv could be excluded from European cups and the Israeli national team could be removed from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. But in practice, a long legal process would begin.

The Israeli Football Association, in fact, would have the possibility to appeal first to FIFA and then, ultimately, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. A complex scenario that makes the suspension of Israel unlikely, at least in the short term.

The Italy-Israel case

Another clue comes from the calendar. On October 14 in Udine, Italy-Israel is scheduled, valid for World Cup qualifiers. The FIGC has not issued any communications about possible postponements or cancellations of the match, a circumstance that confirms the absence of concrete signs of a possible exclusion.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.