Until further notice, no UEFA-sanctioned matches will be played in Israel, according to the authority that governs Europe.
Before the decision was taken by its Executive Committee, UEFA claimed it had done a “thorough evaluation of the current safety and security situation in the entire territory of Israel.”
Israeli teams Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which play in the Europa League and Europa Conference League, respectively, would be impacted by the decision.
“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 for as long as this decision remains in force,” UEFA said.
The Oct. 26 game between Maccabi Haifa and Villarreal has been rescheduled for Dec. 6; the Oct. 26 home match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Zorya Luhansk will now take place on Nov. 25.
Following the unexpected attack by Hamas earlier this month, UEFA postponed all games playing in Israel over a two-week period.
This included Switzerland’s encounter against Israel in Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium’s 2024 European Championship qualifying.
Israel’s qualification match against Kosovo was subsequently postponed “because the Israeli authorities currently do not permit their national team to travel abroad,” according to the organizing authority.
Due to Maccabi Haifa’s youth team’s withdrawal from the UEFA Youth League, Sparta Prague has moved on to the second round.