Former Ireland striker and current Maccabi Tel Aviv manager Robbie Keane has been informed by UEFA that he must find a new venue to play Maccabi Tel Aviv's games.
This decision is a result of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. UEFA has released a statement confirming that both Keane's side and Maccabi Haifa FC must relocate their matches to alternative locations while the situation unfolds in the Middle East.
All matches in the Israeli Premier League are currently postponed indefinitely due to the Hamas attacks. The Maccabi Tel Aviv versus Zorya Luhansk home match, originally scheduled for next Thursday, has been rescheduled to November 25. The corresponding fixture in Lublin, Poland, will proceed as planned on November 9. Additionally, Maccabi will host Gent at home on December 14.
Robbie Keane and his assistant Rory Delap have fled from Israel following the attack by Hamas
Keane, who is manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, had been forced to seek refuge in a panic room pic.twitter.com/DJVxk1iAGE
— OurGame.ie (@OurGameHQ) October 8, 2023
A statement from UEFA reads, “After a thorough evaluation of the current safety and security situation in the whole territory of Israel, the UEFA Executive Committee decided that no UEFA competition matches shall be played in Israel until further notice. The Israel Football Association and its clubs Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv have been requested to propose alternative venues/stadiums (which must comply with all applicable UEFA regulations) outside the territory of Israel for their home matches to be used for as long as this decision remains in force.”
In the past, Israel has played their matches in Cyprus during similar situations, making it a possible option again.
Keane and his assistant Rory Delap have achieved four wins and a draw from their opening five games, placing Maccabi Tel Aviv at the top of the Israeli Premier League. They are also competing in this year’s Europa Conference League, positioned in Group B alongside Breidablik, Gent, and Zorya Luhansk.
