"In recent weeks, a steady stream of reports claimed that UEFA, the body that governs European soccer, was seriously considering banning Israel from international play. Off the heels of September's UN commission report that described the death and destruction Israel has wrought in Gaza as a genocide against Palestinians, UEFA finally saw fit to act-well, not to act, but to consider the possibility of acting."
"In light of UEFA's previous reticence to do the thuddingly obvious by banning Israel's national and club teams from international competition, and thereby to uphold the precedent it had already set with its swift decision to freeze out Russian soccer after the invasion of Ukraine, it came as no surprise when subsequent reports revealed that UEFA's belated resolve was about as steely as single-ply toilet paper."
Reports stated UEFA considered banning Israel from international play after a UN commission described Gaza violence as genocide. The consideration followed UEFA's earlier decision to freeze Russian soccer after the Ukraine invasion, but the proposed measures were tentative and narrowly focused. FIFA recused itself and left the matter to UEFA. The proposed ban would have applied only to UEFA competitions, potentially allowing World Cup participation, and the U.S. State Department opposed excluding Israel from the U.S.-hosted World Cup. UEFA ultimately declined immediate action and waited for peace-process developments. A recent ceasefire likely removes the prospect of sanctions.
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