Move to hold UEFA vote on Israel ban delayed while Donald Trump seeks Gaza deal

Moves for a UEFA vote on suspending Israel from European football are on hold while Donald Trump attempts to end the war in Gaza, Sky News understands.

UEFA had been hearing last week of a growing clamour among UEFA executive committee members and within European FAs to kick out Israeli teams, sources said. But since then President Trump has unveiled a 20-point plan for peace to end two years of war, with talks underway to secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a deal.

There is a belief among leaders in European football now that imposing sporting sanctions on Israel would not be the right move in the middle of peace talks. While some hoped for a UEFA executive committee vote on Israel, an emergency meeting is not understood to have been called.

Sky News revealed last week that the Trump administration would step in to prevent Israel being banned and stopped from continuing in qualifying for the 2026 men's World Cup. Holding off on suspending Israel would allow the national team to play matches next month against Norway and Italy.

Norway has been among the most vocal European nations about Israel remaining in sports competitions amid the destruction and devastation in Gaza. Profits from the match in Oslo will be given to help humanitarian workers provide aid in Gaza.

But, announcing his squad today, manager Ståle Solbakken declined to discuss the conflict, saying he would only give his views on Israel after the match. Before then, in club football, Maccabi Tel Aviv's men are due to play Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on neutral territory in Serbia on Thursday.

A push to ban Israel intensified after a United Nations commission of inquiry said Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied that, insisting it is fighting to eradicate Hamas and return hostages following the 7 October 2023 attacks.

The Turkish Football Federation called for Israel to be banned by FIFA and UEFA. Norway's FA opposes a unilateral boycott, insisting that would only benefit Israel's qualification hopes.

Israel was admitted as a full member of UEFA in 1994. The country began competing in the Asian Football Confederation in 1954 and qualified for the 1970 World Cup.

But the team was then excluded from AFC tournaments from 1974 after countries had refused to play them. There has been no comment from UEFA on talks about banning Israel.

The Israeli FA (IFA) hasn't commented this week on attempts to ban teams. But the IFA did reveal to Sky News that Reebok backed down from moves to end a deal to supply national team kits.

The IFA said in a statement: "After a conversation between IFA President, Moshe Zuares, Reebok and the local franchisee, the company reversed its decision to end its contract with Israel national teams, and the teams uniforms in international matches will feature the company's logo as it has been up to now." Russian teams have been banned by UEFA since the all-out war on Ukraine was launched in 2022 - with oppositions refusing to play them and security challenges..