Geneva: European soccer governing body UEFA is moving toward a vote to suspend Israel from its membership over the war in Gaza, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday. A majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee is expected to back suspending Israeli national and club teams from international tournaments, effectively barring them from competitions, including next year’s World Cup. Israel’s men’s team is scheduled to resume its World Cup qualifying campaign soon with matches against Norway and Italy.

It remains unclear whether FIFA, the global soccer authority, will support barring Israel, given the close ties between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and President Donald Trump. The Trump administration’s backing was pivotal in securing the 2026 World Cup hosting by the US, Canada, and Mexico, as well as facilitating visas for participants and fans. A State Department spokesperson affirmed efforts to block any attempts to exclude Israel from the World Cup.

FIFA’s 37-member ruling council, including eight UEFA members, is due to meet in Zurich next week, where this issue may be discussed. Calls to suspend Israel from sports have surged amid international outrage over the humanitarian impact of its Gaza campaign. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently called for Israel to be banned from global sports events, akin to Russia’s suspension following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this week, seven independent UN Human Rights Council experts urged FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from competitions.

UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin, signalled a toughening stance on Israel last month when banners reading “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians” were displayed on the field at the Paris Saint-Germain versus Tottenham Super Cup match in Italy. The debate over bans emerges as Israel faces growing international criticism and isolation for its military operations launched after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. A UN Human Rights Council inquiry recently accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Israel’s sports and culture minister Miki Zohar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli soccer federation head Moshe Zuares are reportedly working intensively behind the scenes to prevent Israel’s suspension from UEFA. Zohar’s office emphasised the need for responsible action and professional handling rather than public comments for now.

Unlike the 2022 ban on Russia, driven by refusals to play against Russian teams from many UEFA member federations, no European national or club teams have yet declined matches against Israeli teams. However, soccer officials in Norway and Italy have publicly voiced discomfort in recent weeks. The Norwegian federation pledged to donate ticket revenue from their October 11 match against Israel to humanitarian aid for Gaza via Doctors Without Borders.

UEFA’s executive committee includes Italy’s Gabriele Gravina and Norway’s Lise Klaveness, both vocal members, along with Israeli federation president Zuares and Paris Saint-Germain’s president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, a Qatari government official. Tensions rose after Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar—a key US ally and mediator in the conflict.

Political messaging at UEFA events has also heightened. At the Champions League final in May, PSG supporters displayed a “Stop Genocide in Gaza” banner, though UEFA took no disciplinary action despite rules forbidding political statements in stadiums. Most recently, at a Europa League match in Thessaloniki, Greece, Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv faced PAOK amid pro-Palestinian protests and “Stop Genocide” banners.

With inputs from AP