UEFA caught between politics and sport as Israel debate grows

December 3, 2025 Oliver Obel

The most consequential pressure now comes through formal legal pathways.

The Football Association of Ireland recently voted to submit a motion calling for Israel’s suspension from all UEFA competitions. A separate case filed in Switzerland is also moving forward, and either ruling could legally oblige UEFA to take action under international law.

UEFA has not commented publicly on the specifics of the challenges. President Aleksander Ceferin has generally argued against penalising athletes for geopolitical conflicts, though he has said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “personally hurting” him. That tension, between precedent, legal exposure and ethical concern, has become a defining feature of the debate.

Athlete activism builds momentum

The legal moves are happening alongside a sustained wave of advocacy from players and rights groups. More than 70 professional athletes, including Paul Pogba and Hakim Ziyech, signed an open letter urging Ceferin to suspend Israel.

In a separate development, a group of United Nations human rights experts publicly stated that such a suspension would be “a necessary response” to conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Prominent voices inside the sport have added to the pressure. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he believed Palestine had been “abandoned,” citing what he described as “massacres” in Gaza. His comments drew widespread attention across Europe.

What UEFA has been discussing behind closed doors

According to The Athletic, UEFA executives have held several meetings over the past months with organisers of the Game Over Israel campaign, a coalition of activists, humanitarian workers and football supporters. These conversations began before a ceasefire proposal by former U.S. president Donald Trump and continued in the weeks that followed.

Sources familiar with those meetings told The Athletic that UEFA officials sought clarification on how any potential suspension would be implemented and under what legal authority. In at least one meeting, campaign representatives were asked to consult human rights specialists to outline practical enforcement mechanisms.

UEFA has not denied the meetings but has offered no additional detail.

Competitive context and tensions among member nations

Despite calls for removal, Israel remained eligible for World Cup qualifying and finished third in a group with Norway and Italy. Both countries had publicly raised concerns about Israel’s participation during the war in Gaza, but matches proceeded as scheduled.

Some federations argue that UEFA set a clear precedent when it suspended Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. They contend that, by that logic, Israel should face similar consequences. Others remain cautious, pointing out that the circumstances, legally and politically, are not identical.

Humanitarian backdrop and symbolic gestures

The debate is unfolding against stark casualty figures. Gaza’s Health Ministry has said approximately 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas carried out an attack in Israel in October 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 Israeli deaths.

According to The Athletic, Ceferin personally supported displaying a message at the UEFA Super Cup urging an end to civilian deaths. A banner reading “Stop killing children; Stop killing civilians” was shown in the stadium, and two children from Gaza participated in the medal ceremony. The gesture drew both praise and criticism.

What comes next

Insiders quoted by The Athletic say a direct suspension remains unlikely in the immediate future. Even so, the combination of legal action, political pressure and growing player advocacy suggests the issue will remain firmly on UEFA’s agenda.

The organisation is expected to review new legal developments in the coming months. Whether member associations continue to push collectively may determine how quickly or how forcefully UEFA is compelled to respond.

Sources: The Athletic, United Nations, Gaza Health Ministry.