"Why isn’t Israel suspended?": Controversy ahead of Belgian match

"Why Israel can still participate in international competitions and tournaments despite the conflict in Gaza," is the headline they chose to give in the Belgian newspaper Neuseblad ahead of tonight's match between the local team and the Israeli national team.

"The recent war in Gaza raised the question of why Israel is allowed to continue participating in international sporting events when FIFA decided to suspend Russia from all competitions just four days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At the time, there was unanimity regarding the decision, but in the case of Israel and Gaza, the sweeping position seems to be lacking," the newspaper said.

"Israel enjoys broad support within Europe, making it difficult for FIFA and UEFA to take a position that shows that it favors one side of the conflict," the paper said. "Russia was punished when the invasion of Ukraine drew global condemnation, while the split over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes tough measures difficult. This is also why, despite the current tensions, Israel can still be part of international competitions."

* Channel 14 contributed to this article.