UEFA issues emergency ban due to military tensions

Concerned about security, the European Football Association banned Israeli clubs from playing at home and prevented Ukrainian and Russian teams from meeting each other in upcoming tournaments.

Israeli fans will not be allowed to play at home in the Champions League and Europa League. Photo: Reuters.

In Israel, the ban will directly affect Maccabi Tel Aviv, who will have to play in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. In addition, two other teams, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, will also have to play at an alternative venue outside of Israel for their home matches in the Europa League qualifiers.

UEFA announced that the ban will end until further notice.

Recently, the Israeli army fired a rocket at a civilian beach, killing four boys playing soccer there. Military tensions in Gaza show no signs of ending as Israeli officials and Hamas leaders both reject the possibility of a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, based on the latest security situation in Ukraine, UEFA banned the country's football teams from playing against Russian clubs.

The statement read: "After careful consideration of the interests of the clubs and the security situation in the region, UEFA has decided that the Ukrainian and Russian teams cannot be drawn against each other until further notice. Therefore, FC Zenit (from St Petersburg, Russia) and Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) will not be able to face each other in the draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League on 18 July."

Earlier this year, at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, Ukrainian athletes still participated with a commitment not to let military tensions affect the sport. However, after the downing of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in Ukraine, UEFA firmly issued the above ban.

According to VnExpress