Israeli football ban could be lifted soon

UEFA could allow international matches to be played in Israel again, the Israel Football Association chairman has said.

UEFA prevented Israeli clubs from hosting matches on home soil last month because of concerns about the war in the north of the country between Hizbollah and Israel, which ended with a ceasefire last week.

Hizbollah fired approximately 4,000 rockets into Israel, one of which fell next to the stadium of league champions Maccabi Haifa.

IFA chairman Iche Menahem told the board on Monday that he had received a "very encouraging letter" from UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson who said the IFA plea to end the ban on play in Israel would be discussed soon.

Because of the ban, Maccabi Haifa had to host Tuesday's Champions League third qualifying round tie against Liverpool in Kiev, Ukraine. Three other clubs in the UEFA Cup have also hosted matches at European venues.

Other sports were affected by the conflict. FIBA Europe, part of international basketball's governing body, banned all European games in Israel . A professional women's tennis tournament set for October was suspended.

International football returned to Israel in April 2004 after a 25-month ban due to the worsening security situation in the country. Matches can only be played in the Tel Aviv area.

The Israel national team's first home match in EURO 2008 qualifying is against Andorra on Sept. 6. Israel's other opponents in qualifying group 5 are England, Russia, Croatia, Macedonia and Estonia, whom they face in Tallinn on Sept. 2.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.