UEFA, the governing body for European football, has recently announced the suspension of all its competition matches in Israel due to prevailing safety and security concerns. This decision was conveyed by the Israel Football Association (IFA) in response to UEFA’s evaluation of the safety situation throughout Israel.
As a result of this decision, Israeli football clubs such as Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which participate in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, respectively, have been requested, along with the IFA, to find alternative stadiums located outside Israel for hosting their home matches.
In light of this development, Maccabi Haifa’s forthcoming match against Villarreal in Spain, which was originally scheduled for October 26, has been postponed to December 6. Additionally, the team’s subsequent home game against Villarreal is set to take place on November 9.
Similarly, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s next home match against Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk, initially slated for October 26, has been rescheduled for November 25.
Israel had also been scheduled to host the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Switzerland and Romania on November 15 and 18, respectively. However, should UEFA’s decision to suspend matches in Israel persist, these fixtures will be relocated to a neutral venue.
The move comes as UEFA places the safety and well-being of players, officials, and spectators at the forefront of its concerns, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to ensuring secure and risk-free environments for football matches.
