Israel
Uefa held meetings with pro-Palestine campaigners ahead of vote on Israel ban despite Gaza ceasefire
Executives reportedly discussed with activists how to enforce a boycott against the Jewish state
December 2, 2025 11:42
Executives reportedly discussed with activists how to enforce a boycott against the Jewish state
December 2, 2025 11:42Uefa, the governing body of European football, reportedly held meetings with a prominent pro-Palestine campaign ahead of an upcoming vote on whether to ban Israel from its competitions.
According to The Athletic, executives met representatives from the Game Over Israel (GOI) movement, which has called for a sporting boycott of the Jewish state.
It was widely reported in September that Uefa was set to vote on a motion which would bar Israeli clubs and the national team from tournaments including the Champions League and the Euros.
The 20-member executive committee was said to be mostly in favour of the ban, but the organisation’s leadership reportedly delayed the vote until a ceasefire was brokered in Gaza.
While they started before the truce, the meetings between Uefa and GOI have continued since it took effect, per The Atlantic.
The subject of the meetings reportedly included how such a ban could be enforced and representations from “human rights experts” which would “inform future decision-making”.
There is no confirmation yet on whether or when the rescheduled vote will take place, but should the motion pass, it would likely represent one of the most significant sporting boycotts since the measures enforced against the apartheid government in South Africa were dropped in the 1990s.
The JC has contacted Uefa, but it reportedly declined The Atlantic’s request for comment.
It comes after the governing body of Irish football, the FAI, advanced a motion advocating a boycott of Israel, which has now been sent to Uefa.
The motion, tabled by Dublin-based club Bohemians, was passed by a majority of 74-7 by the FAI.
It accuses Israel of "violating two independent provisions of the Uefa statutes".
The club specified these alleged violations as the "organisation of clubs in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association" and a "failure to implement and enforce an effective anti-racism policy".
However, the move could spark backlash from the US, with a senior Senator threatening to take action against the FAI.
Lindsey Graham, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said: “It is my understanding Ireland is about to make a motion to the European body governing soccer to ban Israel from playing in European soccer tournaments.
“Ireland and others would be punishing the Jewish people 80 years after the Holocaust because they choose to fight back against terrorist groups who wish to kill all the Jews.
"Hamas started this war. Hamas has put civilians at risk to continue this war. And Hamas is a radical Islamic terrorist group dedicated to the destruction of Israel. They must be defeated militarily and politically.
“If these attacks against Israel continue, I will do everything in my power to make those who participate in this effort to marginalise Israel in sports, and elsewhere, pay a heavy price when it comes to access to the American economy.”
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