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Irish soccer federation votes to call for UEFA to suspend Israel from competition for alleged violations
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The governing body for soccer in Ireland voted Saturday to call for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel from competition.
It marks the third instance of a European soccer national governing body calling for Israel’s suspension from UEFA, joining Norway and Turkey. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also called for Israel’s sports teams to be suspended from international competition.
The Football Association of Ireland passed the resolution, proposed by Irish club Bohemians, with more than 50% of its delegates supporting it.
The proposal cited two alleged violations of UEFA statutes by the Israel Football Association (IFA). The first is “organizing clubs in occupied Palestinian territories without the consent of the Palestinian FA” and the second is “the alleged failure of the IFA to enforce an effective anti-racism policy.”
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Israeli soccer fans wave flags as Israel warms up prior to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Europe zone Oct. 11, in Oslo, Norway. (Fredrik Varfjell/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
The Irish body also said in a statement it would “call on UEFA to publish transparent criteria for the suspension or exclusion of member associations to ensure equal treatment of all members.”.
Israel’s national team is scheduled to complete its World Cup-qualifying campaign with a match against Moldova Nov. 16. The team is third in its group and cannot finish first to qualify automatically for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, or even second to get into the playoffs.
But growing global opposition against Israeli sports teams has put its athletes and fans in disadvantaged positions in 2025.
The UEFA was reportedly moving toward a vote to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza in September, but the motion was put on pause. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced no action would be taken against the team on Oct. 3, after a historic peace proposal by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams have faced opposition and exclusion.
Israel’s national gymnastics team was denied visas to enter Indonesia for the World Gymnastics Championships in October.
The Indonesian government cited security and safety concerns for denying the visas, but an Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the country’s security team gave clearance to its athletes.
“We received authorization from the Israeli Security Authorities to participate in the World Championship subject to the necessary security protocols in place. From our side, all preparations were complete — registration process, entry visas to Indonesia and Israeli Security Authorities confirmation,” the IGF said.
Israeli men’s gymnast Eyal Indig called Indonesia’s decision “a blatant incident of discrimination on the basis of nationality” in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The Indonesian Embassy in the U.S. responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, saying, “The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia has no further comment to share on this matter.”
In England, fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from attending the team’s recent match against Aston Villa in the U.K. this week, also for safety concerns. Maccabi Tel Aviv FC supporters were reportedly the target of violence in Amsterdam before and during the soccer team’s match against Ajax last year.
However, unrest still broke out at the game on Thursday, with anti-Israel protesters in the vicinity.
British police said six people were arrested Thursday ahead of the Israeli team’s match against Aston Villa in a Europa League match.
About 200 protesters gathered near a park near Aston Villa Park’s Trinity Road stand. These protesters included members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, per The Associated Press. Some pro-Israel protesters were also present.
Meanwhile, the Israeli cycling team, Israel-Premier Tech (IPT), lost its top sponsor despite honoring the sponsor’s request to remove the word “Israel” from the team name.
The Canadian company Premier Tech announced it would be ending its partnership with the team in a statement released Friday.
“After multiple discussions with the team and careful assessment of all relevant circumstances, Premier Tech has decided to step down as co-title sponsor of the team taking effect immediately,” the statement said.
“Although we took notice of the team’s decision to change its name for the 2026 season, the core reason for Premier Tech to sponsor the team has been overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable for us to continue as a sponsor.”
In September, after agreeing to drop “Israel” from its name, the team said it “expects the team to evolve towards a new name excluding ‘Israel,’ leading to a new identity and branding.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to IPT for comment.
The team was excluded from an October race in Italy, the Giro dell’Emilia, because of concerns over potentially disruptive pro-Palestine protests.
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Organizers made the decision after protesters repeatedly disrupted the recent Spanish Vuelta in the presence of Israel-Premier Tech.
Seven of the past 11 days of racing at the Vuelta were cut short or interrupted because Spain’s government estimated more than 100,000 people were on the streets in Madrid during the final stage in September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday said that the cricket board would “operate Multan Sultans” this year, with plans to auction the franchise after the conclusion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.
The announcement comes a month after Ali Tareen said he was parting ways with the PSL franchise as his relations with the PCB had strained over the past year.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the PCB chief confirmed that the cricket board would operate the franchise this year, saying “the franchise will be auctioned after the PSL concludes”.
Sultans were originally awarded as the sixth PSL team to the Schon Group under a $5.2 million agreement, making it the most expensive franchise at the time.
However, the PCB terminated the agreement after the inaugural season when franchise payments were not made.
In 2018, Alamgir Tareen, along with his nephew Ali, acquired the franchise for $6.3 million.
Meanwhile, Naqvi said that the board wanted to begin the upcoming PSL season earlier than planned.
“We want to start the PSL from March 23 instead of March 26, and a final decision will be made after consultation with all franchises,” he added.
The PCB chief announced that former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram had been appointed as the PSL’s brand ambassador ahead of the upcoming edition.
On the league’s expansion, he said that the bidding for the two new PSL teams will take place on January 8 in Islamabad.
“It is an important day for us, and our teams will sell well,” he said, adding that ten parties have qualified for the second round of the auction.
The PCB confirmed the same a day earlier, saying that its bid committee had shortlisted 10 bidders for the second round of the auction to sell the rights for two new teams in the PSL.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five franchises and later expanded to six sides in 2018, is set for further expansion with the addition of two new teams from its upcoming 11th edition, set to be played next year.
With the upcoming additions, the PSL will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, bringing the total number of franchises to eight.
On India-related cricket issues, the PCB chief said that whatever happens with India “will be on an equal footing”.
“If they do not want to shake hands, we have no such desire either,” Naqvi added.
He revealed plans to bring up the conduct of India’s Under-19 team before the International Cricket Council (ICC).
On team management, Naqvi stated that a final decision on the appointment of the red-ball team head coach has not yet been made, adding that a PCB team was currently reviewing the matter.
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College basketball coaching legend Tom Izzo didn’t hold back when asked about James Nnaji returning to Baylor after being selected in the NBA Draft but never having played a game for a team.
Nnaji announced he would return to the Bears after a stint at FC Barcelona. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons in 2023 and was traded twice during his career. He was a part of the trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks before the 2024-25 season.
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Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo protests a call that benefitted the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center on Dec. 2, 2025. (Dale Young/Imagn Images)
But Nnaji is part of a growing trend of former college basketball players, with NCAA eligibility remaining, returning to school following stints in the G League or elsewhere. Izzo suggested on Saturday he’s had enough of it.
“Now we’re taking guys that were drafted in the NBA and everything,” the Michigan State men’s basketball coach said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I said it to you a month and a half ago – c’mon Magic (Johnson) and Gary (Harris), let’s go baby, let’s do it. Why not? I mean, if that’s what we’re going to (do), shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too. But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess. But the NCAA is the one. Those people on those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous and not think of the kid.
James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a shot during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 34 match between LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne and FC Barcelona at LDLC Arena on April 12, 2024 in Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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“So everybody talks about me thinking of my program or I’m selfish. No. Get that straight, for all of you. I’m thinking of, what is best for my son if he was in that position? And I just don’t agree with it.”
Izzo maintained he wasn’t going to fight the growing trend, but he also wasn’t going to let it pass him by without sharing his thoughts on the issue. He maintained that if college basketball is going to be more like the professional ranks, then it should go all in instead of dipping a toe or two in those waters.
James Nnaji of FC Barcelona in action during warm up prior the 2023/2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Play Offs match 1 between FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus at Palau Blaugrana on April 24, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball)
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He expressed similar sentiments in October when the first crop of G League players returned to school.
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RABAT:
Uche Ikpeazu scored a late equaliser before teammate Allan Okello missed a penalty as Uganda had to settle for a 1-1 draw with East African rivals Tanzania in their Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash in Rabat on Saturday.
It is a first point for both sides in their pool after they opened their 2025 campaign with defeats by Tunisia and Nigeria, respectively. Those two sides are in action later on Saturday in Fes.
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The top two teams in each group, as well as the four best third-placed sides across the six groups, qualify for the last 16.
Tanzania took the lead in the 59th minute when Simon Msuva converted a penalty following a handball in the box, but they were to be denied a first-ever win at the continental finals at the 11th attempt.
Ikpeazu’s diving header drew Uganda level, before they were awarded a penalty and the chance to win it late on, only for talisman Okello to put his spot kick over the crossbar.
There was a familiar feel to the contest between two long-standing regional rivals, though this was their first meeting at the Cup of Nations.
Uganda came close to the opener when Rogers Mato’s header came back off the crossbar inside 15 minutes, but the game really came to life in the second half.
Tanzania were awarded a penalty when Alphonce Msanga’s shot from outside the box struck the arm of Uganda midfielder Baba Alhassan, which was deemed to be in an unnatural position.
Msuva stepped up to take the spot kick and fired it into the roof of the net.
But Tanzania could not see the game out and were denied a maiden Cup of Nations finals win when powerful forward Ikpeazu stooped to head in Denis Omedi’s cross from the right.
Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed awarded Uganda a penalty following a tug on the shirt of James Bogere by Haji Mnoga.
Okello is known as ‘Star Boy’ in his homeland, such is his talent, but fluffed his lines on this occasion as he sent his spot kick over the crossbar.
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