Since the outbreak of the Israel–Gaza war in October 2023, more than 80,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Gaza as of June 2025.
Conditions in the territory have deteriorated sharply, with the United Nations World Food Programme warning that 500,000 residents are ‘on the brink of starvation’ and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
UEFA are now facing an increasing number of calls from the public to ban Israel and Israeli clubs from competing in their tournaments.
General secretary Theodore Theodoridis has since responded, saying: "There was no such discussions or such intention from the UEFA administration (to take similar action against Israel compared to Russia).
"There are two completely different situations between the two countries. Don't forget the start of the war in Russia and Ukraine and the start of what is happening now - which is regrettable, of course - in the Middle East."