UEFA has been encouraged to take action against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv after they were drawn against Premier League side Aston Villa in the Europa League group stage. The Israeli team is the only one from their country to qualify for any European competition this season, and they will compete against Lyon, Bologna, and Stuttgart in the first round of Europe’s second-tier league.
However, given the current political context, some teams have expressed concern over this, and the continent’s governing body has being pressured to intervene before the tournament’s next stage.
Teams ‘tested the waters’ with Tel-Aviv request.
According to The Times, several European clubs have contacted with UEFA about the prospect of avoiding a match against an Israeli squad in continental championships.
According to UEFA sources, no formal requests have been received, and such accommodations are not permitted by regulations. Nonetheless, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s participation into the Europa League may generate severe worries about security and potential protests.
Tel Aviv will face Aston Villa on one of eight possible days between September 24th, 2025 and January 29th, 2026, though an actual date has yet to be announced.
In response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, the Italian Football Coaches’ Association urged FIFA and UEFA to impose a temporary suspension from international play. Some have questioned why Russia faces exclusion but Israel does not.
The Norwegian FA declared that all revenues from their World Cup qualifying match against Israel in Oslo on October 11 will go to humanitarian assistance in Gaza, marking the most recent development in the football world’s response to the conflict between Israel and Gaza. According to reports, Norwegian players have strong personal beliefs about the situation there.
President Lise Klaveness stated on the subject, “Neither we nor other organizations can remain oblivious to the humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been exposed to for a long time.
“Israel participates in FIFA and UEFA competitions, and we must cope with this. But we want to donate the earnings to a humanitarian agency that saves lives in Gaza every day and provides active emergency relief on the ground.”
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