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Ireland's football governing body voted on Saturday to call on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to ban Israel from the competition.
This marks the third case of European national governing body for football calling for the removal of Israel from UEFA and the accession of Norway and Turkey. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also called for Israeli sports teams to be banned from international competitions.
The Football Association of Ireland has adopted a resolution proposed by Irish club Bohemians, more than 50% of the delegates supported her.
The proposal cited two alleged violations of UEFA statutes by the Israel Football Association (IFA). The first is the “organization of clubs in the occupied Palestinian territories without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association”, and the second is the IFA’s “alleged failure to implement an effective anti-racist policy”.
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Israeli soccer fans wave flags as Israel warms up for the European zone qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on October 11 in Oslo, Norway. (Fredrik Warfiel/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
The Irish body also said in a statement that it would “call on UEFA to publish transparent criteria for the suspension or expulsion of member associations to ensure equal treatment of all members.”
The Israeli team plans to complete World Cup qualifying campaign with the match against Moldova on November 16. The team is ranked third in its group and cannot finish first to automatically qualify for next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, or even second to qualify for the playoffs.
But growing global opposition to Israeli sports teams has put its athletes and fans at a disadvantage in 2025.
UEFA is reportedly moving towards vote to suspend Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip in September, but the proposal was put on hold. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that no action would be taken against the team on October 3 following the president's historic peace offer. Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams faced opposition and isolation.
The Israeli gymnastics team was denied a visa to enter Indonesia for the World Gymnastics Championships in October.
The Indonesian government cited security concerns and visa refusal, but Israel Gymnastics Federation An (IGF) spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the country's security service has given permission to its athletes.
“We have received permission from the Israeli security authorities to participate in the World Cup, subject to the necessary security protocols. On our part, all preparations have been completed – the registration process, entry visas to Indonesia and confirmation from the Israeli security authorities,” the IGF said.
Israeli men's gymnast Eyal Indig called Indonesia's decision “a blatant case of ethnic discrimination” in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The Indonesian Embassy in the US responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment, saying: “The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia has no further comment on this matter.”
In England, fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from attending the team's recent match. match against Aston Villa UK this week, also for security reasons. Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv football club were reportedly the target of violence in Amsterdam before and during the football team's match against Ajax last year.
However, unrest did break out during Thursday's game as anti-Israel protesters were nearby.
British police said six people were arrested on Thursday On the eve of the match of the Israeli national team against Aston Villa in the Europa League match.
Around 200 protesters gathered outside the park near the Trinity Road stand at Aston Villa Park. Those protesters included members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, according to the Associated Press. Some pro-Israel protesters were also present.
Meanwhile, the Israeli cycling team Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) lost main sponsor despite complying with a sponsor's request to remove the word “Israel” from the team's name.
Canadian company Premier Tech announced it was ending its partnership with the team in a statement released Friday.
“After numerous discussions with the team and careful evaluation of all relevant circumstances, Premier Tech has decided to step down as co-sponsor of the team effective immediately,” the statement said.
“While we have taken note of the team's decision to change its name for the 2026 season, the primary reason Premier Tech sponsored the team has been clouded to the extent that it has become impossible for us to continue as a sponsor.”
In September, after agreeing to drop the word “Israel” from its name, the team said it “expects the team to evolve towards a new name that excludes the word 'Israel', resulting in a new identity and branding.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to IPT for comment.
The team was dropped from October's race in Italy, the Giro del Emilia, due to concerns about potentially disruptive pro-Palestinian protests.
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Organizers made the decision after protesters repeatedly disrupted the recent Spanish Vuelta in the presence of Israel-Premier Tech.
Seven of the last 11 days of racing at the Vuelta were interrupted or abandoned due to Government of Spain It is estimated that more than 100,000 people took to the streets of Madrid during the final stage in September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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