UEFA weighs action on Israel amid pressure from pro-Palestinian campaigners

UEFA officials have held meetings with leaders of the pro-Palestinian campaign Game Over Israel to discuss the potential suspension of Israel from international soccer competitions, according to a report by The Athletic.

The campaign was launched in New York on September 17. Its organizers are pressing European federations to expel Israel from UEFA tournaments, citing human rights concerns.

Israel’s national soccer team

(Photo: Mindaugas Kulbis/ AP)

According to sources familiar with the matter, UEFA came close to putting Israel’s continued participation to a vote in late September, under pressure from several member associations, including Ireland and Switzerland. However, the proposal was shelved following the Gaza ceasefire.

Despite the pause, meetings between UEFA officials and campaign representatives have continued. Discussions reportedly focused on legal mechanisms that could be used to justify a suspension. While UEFA is not currently expected to act unilaterally, it is monitoring two legal petitions—filed in Ireland and Switzerland—that could force the organization to reconsider Israel’s eligibility under international law.

One face-to-face meeting was said to have taken place on October 15 at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland, the same week Birmingham police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa Conference League match at Aston Villa due to security concerns. At the time, UEFA called on both clubs and local authorities to implement measures that would allow supporters to attend.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin

(Photo: Armando Franca/ AP)

According to the report, UEFA officials asked Game Over Israel to provide human rights legal opinions to help guide any future decision-making processes. UEFA declined to comment on the meetings.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has reportedly expressed sympathy for the suffering in Gaza. He personally supported a message displayed during August’s UEFA Super Cup match reading “Stop Killing Children; Stop Killing Civilians.” Two child refugees from Gaza also participated in the medal ceremony. Čeferin has also explored meeting with Richard Falk, a former UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories and a key advisor to Game Over Israel.

Game Over Israel describes itself as a “coalition of ordinary people” including organizers, humanitarian activists and soccer fans who advocate for “justice, accountability and freedom for Palestine.” The campaign is primarily funded by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and is backed by several former senior UN human rights officials.