UEFA takes stock on Israel

UEFA is to make a further evaluation of the situation in Israel, before taking a decision at the end of the month on whether or not to allow the resumption of European games in the country.

Monday meeting
This follows a meeting at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, on Monday, between UEFA Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner, the Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and the president of the Israel Football Association, Gavriel Levi.

Israeli delegation
European football's governing body listened carefully to representations made by their prominent Israeli guests, who came to Nyon with the request that Israel be allowed to start hosting UEFA club and national team games again. UEFA has been reviewing the security situation on a regular basis for more than a year since advising that European games should not be played in Israel.

Additional time
The European body is of the view that as the process towards peace in the region is still at an early stage, additional time is still needed for assessment before Israel could be allowed to stage international games once more.

One-hour meeting
"The Executive Committee wants to have an evaluation at the end of the month," said Mr Aigner at the end of the one-hour meeting. "If the feeling is that the time is right to change the position, then they will do so." UEFA is entitled under its statutes to convene meetings of an Emergency Panel to take urgent decisions between scheduled meetings of its Executive Committee.

Fruitful and friendly
The parties described the meeting as fruitful and friendly. "We asked Mr Aigner and his staff to do their best to bring European football back to Israel, and they will take their decision at the end of this month. We know that it is not easy for them," said Mr Shalom. "They will take the decision that they think they should take." 

Right decision
"It was a very good meeting," added Mr Levi. "I trust that UEFA will make the right decision, hopefully in our favour."