Efforts continue to Israeli participation in European championships

BRUSSELS, Dec. 04 (YPA) – Meetings have continued between officials from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the pro-Palestinian “Game Over Israel” campaign to discuss the legal and regulatory mechanisms necessary to ban the participation of the Israeli national team and clubs in European competitions.

The campaign was launched in New York on September 17, following a UN declaration that Israeli actions in Gaza amount to genocide.

Sources indicated that UEFA was close to calling for a vote on banning “Israel’s” participation in late September, but opted for caution after a ceasefire was reached.

The sources rule out a direct decision from the UEFA Executive Committee to avoid confrontation with other international sports bodies. Instead, the association is monitoring legal developments in Ireland and Switzerland that may compel it to act under international law.

UEFA officials asked the campaign to gather opinions from human rights experts to help guide any future decisions on the matter.

YPA