Frank Christian
The Israel-Hamas conflict has generated significant discussion worldwide, affecting various sectors, including football.
Israel, ranked No. 79 in FIFA’s September 2024 standings, has gained some visibility in football over the past five years. However, their participation as a UEFA member is currently being questioned because of ongoing conflicts.
Given the risks associated with hosting home games during these hostilities, Israel seeks a temporary venue for their matches, while still being cleared to play by FIFA.
The Sporting News reports on Israel’s decision to relocate their home fixtures to ensure the safety of players and fans while distancing the national team from the ongoing conflict, especially before UEFA Nations League matches with France and Italy.
Current Home Match Venue for Israel
At the moment, Israel is hosting their home games in Budapest, Hungary due to the war with Hamas.
They have utilized different venues around the city, including the Szusza Ferenc Stadion, which holds 13,500 spectators, for a Nations League match against Iceland in March 2024, and the smaller Bozsik Arena, seating 8,200, for a match against Italy in September.
The close relationship between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu facilitated this arrangement. Orban has portrayed Hungary as a safe haven for Jews and has prohibited Palestinian protests, according to the Associated Press.
Concerns regarding player and fan safety aren’t just restricted to Israel’s matches. Brussels, Belgium, declined to host a match in June between Belgium and Israel due to safety fears.
Although Brussels typically hosts Belgium’s home games, protests against Israel and violence in the region have escalated. The city declared organizing such a “high-risk match” would be unfeasible, leading to the game being played at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, where Belgium secured a 3-1 victory with two goals from Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Prospects for FIFA or UEFA Sanctioning Israel
As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, there have been numerous protests advocating for sanctions against Israel from FIFA or UEFA.
Protesters point to UEFA’s ban on Russia over its actions in Ukraine as a precedent for similar measures against Israel. Russia is currently excluded from senior UEFA competitions, including the European Championship, Nations League, and World Cup qualifiers.
However, UEFA has not pursued such sanctions against Israel. Instead, they have initiated a “disciplinary investigation” concerning potential discrimination claimed by Palestinian soccer authorities. This inquiry responds to Israel’s practice of including West Bank-based clubs in its competitions, a practice that Palestinian officials have long contested.
Moreover, Palestine has urged FIFA to suspend Israel, citing alleged “violations of international law” in Gaza alongside grievances regarding West Bank teams. FIFA has indicated it will look into “the participation in Israeli competitions of teams purportedly based in Palestinian territory.”
