Football question from the cheap seats

[Queen Macoomeh]

how come Israel is in the European league?

[Bakes]

how come Israel is in the European league?

Very good question... especially considering the Geography. 

My uneducated guess would be that it's a political compromise born of necessity.  The other logical option would have been to put them in the Asia group, but considering what occured in Munich in 1972 it would seem to make sense to not expose Israeli athletes to unnecessary danger by sending them to Arab countries and  vice versa.  Just to illustrate, some of the countries in "Asia" include: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait... Syria.

Not very palatable options.

[Queen Macoomeh]

I guess the Palestinians have no clubs huh? Considering they cannot cross the road without permission.

So in the name of the game, Israel is allowed to compete in a league well outside their geography to save them from being harmed on and off the field. Some one felt sorry (or paid) to allow this. The game is that important but lives, apologies, mending fences are not.

look, let me hush oui...ah feeling a feeling...

[Jah Gol]

how come Israel is in the European league?

Very good question... especially considering the Geography. 

My uneducated guess would be that it's a political compromise born of necessity.  The other logical option would have been to put them in the Asia group, but considering what occured in Munich in 1972 it would seem to make sense to not expose Israeli athletes to unnecessary danger by sending them to Arab countries and  vice versa.  Just to illustrate, some of the countries in "Asia" include: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait... Syria.

Not very palatable options.

Imagine 100,000 screaming Iranians in the Azadi watching Israel play a qualifier or Asian Cup knock out match.

[Bakes]

I guess the Palestinians have no clubs huh? Considering they cannot cross the road without permission.

So in the name of the game, Israel is allowed to compete in a league well outside their geography to save them from being harmed on and off the field. Some one felt sorry (or paid) to allow this. The game is that important but lives, apologies, mending fences are not.

look, let me hush oui...ah feeling a feeling...

Nah QM, for Israel to play in UEFA is actually much to their disadvantage... UEFA is the most competitive confederation in FIFA.  Meanwhile the Asian powerhouses are Japan, S. Korea... Saudi Arabia even.  Israel would stand a much better chance making a World Cup had they played in Asia.

------

Jah Gol, more than 100,000 screaming at them... might be a couple thousand would-be martyrs lining up to bomb whatever hotel the team would be staying at.

[Jah Gol]

I guess the Palestinians have no clubs huh? Considering they cannot cross the road without permission.

So in the name of the game, Israel is allowed to compete in a league well outside their geography to save them from being harmed on and off the field. Some one felt sorry (or paid) to allow this. The game is that important but lives, apologies, mending fences are not.

look, let me hush oui...ah feeling a feeling...

Nah QM, for Israel to play in UEFA is actually much to their disadvantage... UEFA is the most competitive confederation in FIFA.  Meanwhile the Asian powerhouses are Japan, S. Korea... Saudi Arabia even.  Israel would stand a much better chance making a World Cup had they played in Asia.

------

Jah Gol, more than 100,000 screaming at them... might be a couple thousand would-be martyrs lining up to bomb whatever hotel the team would be staying at.

Sad but true.

[boss]

look, let me hush oui...ah feeling a feeling...

Are you getting the symptoms? 

n 1956 the Israel Football Association was admitted to the AFC. In the early 1970s the Israel Football Association was expelled from the AFC due to political pressure from Arab and Muslim that refused to play against Israel. For 20 years the Israel Football Association was not affiliated with any confederation and was playing provisionally in the OFC and in the UEFA until in 1994 it was admitted to the UEFA as a full member.

[Blue]

how come Israel is in the European league?

Very good question... especially considering the Geography. 

My uneducated guess would be that it's a political compromise born of necessity.  The other logical option would have been to put them in the Asia group, but considering what occured in Munich in 1972 it would seem to make sense to not expose Israeli athletes to unnecessary danger by sending them to Arab countries and  vice versa.  Just to illustrate, some of the countries in "Asia" include: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait... Syria.

Not very palatable options.

Imagine 100,000 screaming Iranians in the Azadi watching Israel play a qualifier or Asian Cup knock out match.

Would never happen....many of the Arab nations refuse to play against Israel (since in their eyes Israel doesnt exist).

If they ever happened to meet an Arab country in a WC, its very likely that the Arabs would forfeit the match

[Bakes]

look, let me hush oui...ah feeling a feeling...

Are you getting the symptoms? 

n 1956 the Israel Football Association was admitted to the AFC. In the early 1970s the Israel Football Association was expelled from the AFC due to political pressure from Arab and Muslim that refused to play against Israel. For 20 years the Israel Football Association was not affiliated with any confederation and was playing provisionally in the OFC and in the UEFA until in 1994 it was admitted to the UEFA as a full member.

Good find... never knew anything about this