Felcsut, Hungary - The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has decided that Israel’s upcoming EURO 2024 qualifying matches will take place in Hungary. This decision, announced on Tuesday, comes as a response to the current security situation in Israel, prompting the UEFA Executive Committee to prohibit the hosting of UEFA competition matches in the country until further notice.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Israel-Switzerland game scheduled for November 15 and the Israel-Romania match set for November 18 will both be played at Puskas Akademia Pancho Arena in Felcsut, Hungary. The statement also confirmed that spectators will be allowed to attend these games.
This relocation of matches follows a period of intensified military activity in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli army has ramped up its air and ground attacks since Hamas initiated a surprise offensive on October 7. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 10,000 casualties, including 8,525 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis, with the latest figures provided indicating the severity of the situation.