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Ireland's football governing body has given the green light to submit a formal motion to Uefa, calling for the banning of Israeli football from continental team and national tournaments.

Grounds for the Recommended Ban

The resolution, which was proposed by Irish side Bohemians, cited alleged breaches by the IFA of a couple of important European football regulations.

• Failure to apply and uphold an proper anti-racism policy.
• Establishment of football teams in occupied Palestinian territories without the approval of the Palestrian FA.

Vote Outcome and Future Actions

As stated in an announcement from the Irish FA, the resolution was supported by 74 votes, with 7 against and two not voting.

The association intends to officially present this motion to the UEFA's decision-making body, asking for the immediate suspension of the IFA from Uefa competitions.

In an extraordinary general meeting of the FAI, an ordinary resolution was posed to members. It was approved by a large margin.

Previous Uefa Considerations

Uefa had previously paused intentions to ban Israeli football at the close of last month, following the revealing of a US peace proposal for the area.

While Uefa never publicly stated considering an special session on the issue, plans were understood to be well developed.

International Backdrop

This Irish move comes after comparable calls in last autumn from the leaders of Turkish and Norwegian governing bodies for banning Israel from global football.

These appeals were made after UN specialists urged world and European football bodies to ban Israel, referencing a UN commission of inquiry report that accused Israel of acts of genocide during the Gaza conflict.

The Israeli government has denied these claims and described the report as outrageous.

Potential Consequences

Should Uefa decide to suspend the IFA, it would probably strain relations with the United States government – co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup – which strongly opposes such an measure.

Even though Uefa has the authority to exclude Israel or its clubs from European competitions, it might not be able to prevent them from competing in qualification for the World Cup, which is governed by Fifa.