Due to the conflict in the Middle East, Israeli players play their match in Hungary, where Viktor Orban welcomed them for sporting but above all political reasons.
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A kick-off on neutral ground. For the third day of the Nations League, the French football team faces Israel on Thursday October 10 at 8:45 p.m. In the midst of conflict in the Middle East, the selection of the Jewish state can no longer receive its adversaries on Israeli territory. The match will therefore take place on neutral ground in Hungary, in Budapest.
Since the October 7 attack, Israel has played seven of its nine international matches in Hungary. Viktor Orban, an outspoken supporter of the Jewish state, immediately reached out to Israeli footballers. This is no surprise for Kevin Veyssières, expert in sports geopolitics: “The idea is indeed to show that Hungary is a safe country for the Jewish people. Relations between Viktor Orban and Benjamin Netanyahu are in good shape in any case. Hungary is rather a country friendly to Israel. “
The Hungarian leader has made hosting matches that are difficult to organize one of his specialties. Budapest has already been a fallback solution for European Cup matches in the middle of Covid. A relationship of trust has since been established between Viktor Orban and UEFA, the European federation. “It is a privileged partner in any case when it comes to finding a solution so that the competitions take placecontinues Kevin Veyssières. It suits UEFA well, in such a tense conflict between Israel and Hamas, to have a solution which is not debated and where the political question is not at the center of the game. This suits UEFA.”
With Hungary, “when it’s yes, it’s yes”slips a source at UEFA. The European institution knows how to return the favor: after the final of the Europa League in 2023, Budapest will host that of the Champions League in 2026.