PAOK hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League opener as Israel avoids UEFA ban

[Reuters]

An opening-round Europa League lucifer betwixt Thessaloniki nine PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv will take spot arsenic scheduled tonight successful Greece’s 2nd city, aft UEFA opted against banning Israeli teams from its competitions.

Calls from various groups, including shot associations, had urged European soccer’s governing assemblage to suspend Israel’s nationalist and nine sides implicit the struggle successful the Middle East.

However, according to Israeli regular Israel Hayom, UEFA’s enforcement committee decided connected Tuesday not to enforce a ban, pursuing planetary diplomatic pressure, including from the US. 

UEFA has said nary matches will beryllium staged successful Israel for the clip being, but its teams whitethorn proceed to vie successful neutral venues. The adjacent enforcement committee gathering is scheduled for December 3.

Alongside PAOK, Athens nine Panathinaikos has besides reached the 36-team league signifier of Europe’s second-tier competition.