No UEFA matches in Israel 'until further notice' as clubs told to find new stadiums for European games

Robbie Keane's Maccabi Tel Aviv side will not be able to play their upcoming Europa Conference League match in Israel
Matt Verri19 October 2023

No UEFA matches will take place in Israel "until further notice" following a review by European football's governing body.

The country's Euro 2024 qualifiers with Switzerland and Kosovo were postponed last week amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, with the former provisionally rescheduled for November.

It remains uncertain whether that Switzerland match, scheduled to be played in Tel Aviv, will be able to take place next month, with UEFA now confirming that changes will also be made in Israel at club level.

Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, competing in the Europa League and Europa Conference League respectively, have been asked to find appropriate venues outside of Israel for their upcoming home matches in the competitions.

A statement read: "After a thorough evaluation of the current safety and security situation in the whole territory of Israel, the UEFA Executive Committee decided that no UEFA competition matches shall be played in Israel until further notice.

"The Israel Football Association and its clubs Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv have been requested to propose alternative venues/stadiums (which must comply with all applicable UEFA regulations) outside the territory of Israel for their home matches to be used as long as this decision remains in force."

Maccabi Haifa's trip to Villarreal has been pushed back from October 26 to December 6, while Maccabi Tel Aviv's match at home to Zorya Luhansk, also originally scheduled for October 26, has been postponed to November 25.

Former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane is the manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, having taken charge in the summer, and had led the club to the top of the Israeli Premier League.

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