Swiss parliament to debate uefa tax status over israel participation

The parliament of the Swiss canton of Vaud is set to debate a motion next week challenging the tax-exempt status of UEFA. The proposal, titled 'Are the conditions for UEFA's tax exemption still met?', questions why the football governing body has not sanctioned Israel despite its stated commitment to peace. Left-wing members of the Vaud parliament introduced the motion with backing from the lobbying group Game Over Israel. The group advocates for the exclusion of Israeli teams from international football competitions. With the political left holding 64 out of 150 seats, the vote is expected to be highly contested, with the position of right-wing parties proving decisive. If the motion is approved, the Swiss federal council will be asked to demand an explanation from UEFA regarding its stance on Israel. UEFA officials estimate that losing its tax-exempt status could cost the organization approximately 30 million euros annually. The situation was initially reported by the French media outlet L'Equipe.