UEFA announced on Thursday (October 19) that Israel would not host any UEFA-sanctioned football matches until further notice.
The decision was an update to a previous two-week postponement after Hamas's surprise sabbath attack, including Israel's Euro 2024 match against Switzerland at Tel Aviv's Bloomfield Stadium
The continental football body said it had conducted a "thorough evaluation of the current safety and security situation in the whole territory of Israel" before the UEFA Executive Committee made its decision.
Football Players Suspended for Israel-Hamas War Remarks
Earlier this week, two football players of North African descent, Anwar El Ghazi and Youcef Atal, were reportedly suspended for their alleged support for the Palestinian cause in light of the Israel-Hamas War.
El Ghazi was with Mainz and Atal with Nice prior to their suspensions, with both clubs competing under UEFA.
Read Also : Brazilian Football Star Neymar Suffers ACL, Set To Undergo Surgery, Could Miss At Least One Season
Israeli Teams' Matches Postponed Due to War vs. Hamas
The UEFA ruling would impact Israeli teams Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which are competing in the Europa League and Europa Conference League respectively, the Associated Press reported.
"The Israel Football Association and its clubs Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv have been requested to propose alternative venues/stadiums (which must comply with all applicable UEFA regulations) outside the territory of Israel for their home matches to be used for as long as this decision remains in force," the football body added.
As a result of the Israel-Hamas War, Maccabi Haifa's game at Villarreal on October 26 has been put back to December 6 and Maccabi Tel Aviv's home game against Zorya Luhansk that had been scheduled for the same day will now be held on November 25.
In addition, UEFA has postponed Israel's qualifying game against Kosovo due to Israeli authorities not allowing their national team to travel abroad for the moment.
Maccabi Haifa's youth team has also withdrawn from the UEFA Youth League, which meant Sparta Prague has advanced to round two.
