Europe’s Football Politics, UEFA’s Neutral Match Strategy

Under regional tensions, on the one hand, and safety factors, on the other hand, Israeli football clubs are taking their matches in Europe, Serbia in order to provide a subtle combination of a neutral political position, infrastructure and logistics.

Europa League qualifier in Serbia

On August 21, Maccabi Tel Aviv played Dynamo Kiev in a Europa League qualifier at Serbia in TSC Arena Backa Topola. Both clubs, which were not allowed to hold the games in the countries of their origin (both were considered dangerous by UEFA), chose a neutral place, Serbia over Tel Aviv, and Poland over Kiev.

Marko Begovic, associate professor of sport management at Molde University in Norway has identified three reasons as to why Serbia has been chosen as the favorite, stability in the diplomatic ties with Israel; neutrality contribution to the ongoing Middle East and Ukraine Russia conflict, and the availability of good sporting infrastructure. More to the point, there is an element of regional memory at play, previous Israeli sports clubs in the former Yugoslav republics, including Serbia, have not caused many if any hue and cry.

UEFA and Israel

Historically, UEFA already disallowed matches in Israel in between the Israel Hamas conflict. In late 2023, UEFA moved Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv European home matches to Belgrade and Backa Topola as security risks were increasing. Prior to arriving in Serbia, Maccabi Haifa even had match in Cyprus. These transfers have further strengthened the Serbia as a politically and logistically viable destination of Israel clubs.

Politicization of Football

This state of affairs begs the bigger question of the politicization of sport. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has argued though Israel in UEFA competition is a worthy inquiry, he does not support such a move to ban athletes on political grounds and used the financial reality of similar moves against Russia. However, sports are being pressed more and more to mirror geopolitical values. The EU sports commissioner Glenn Micallef has gone to the extent of saying those who do not subscribe to European values should not take part in sporting events, a clear reference to the controversies.

With persistent conflicts and sports involving a growing share of politics, neutral territories such as Serbia present a viable option but they stir up the debates of the role of sports in diplomacy and morality.

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