Why is Israel playing as a European based team?

[Hosseini]

Anyone know the real reason?

[Masoud_A]

Because AFC refused them.

[persian-eagle-13]

it was just a political move by FIFA and other sports governing bodies, put all the Arab teams in either Asia or Africa and move Israel to Europe. after all it is the arab countries that have problem with Israel. it also works better for Israel lobby to line themselves with the Europeans then with Africans or Asians. this way they can force their lobby down the throat of the whole world.

[Zamboor]

After the islamic revolution khomeini said he would bomb them if they played team melli (Btw im just joking i dont know the reason)

[Shahin K]

Well as a border country you czn chose. Just like Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazachstan chose to move to europe..azerbaijan could actually try to qualify if they were in asia lol.

[Kaveh Ahangar]

I would speculate that it is because the standard of football in UEFA is so much higher.

[DRCha]

Israel was originally part of the AFC. The Muslim countries in the AFC refused Israel because of the Arab-Israeli war.

[Hosseini]

Well as a border country you czn chose. Just like Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazachstan chose to move to europe..azerbaijan could actually try to qualify if they were in asia lol.

Israel isn't much of a border cntry though, same place as Lebanon, Palestine - in the Middle East. Turkey I could understand but Azerbaijan or Armenia aren't close to the potential of Euro football at all.

[Aryan]

Like DRCHA said, many muslim nations boycotted Israel, so FIFA was forced to move them to Europe. There is no conspiracy, everyone needs to calm down. Prior to the 70s Israel was in AFC and there was no problem, after the wars with its neighbors it made the switch.

[PERSIANMAFIA]

bc no Middle East country wants to play vs israel

[Ario Barzan]

correct to all the above answers ... plus i would ask this question, in reply 2 ur question :

1- why is it that israel pretty much get its way on everything it demands from western europeans and america?

2- why is it that when AIPAC speaks, all american politicians (republicans & democrats) listen and abide?

3- why is it that when they want something implemented in the movie industry, diamond trade, and money markets (to just name a few), it gets down like yesterday

all they have 2 say is jump ... and the response 9 outta 10 times is ... how hi ?!?

[PSGman#19]

correct to all the above answers ... plus i would ask this question, in reply 2 ur question :

1- why is it that israel pretty much get its way on everything it demands from western europeans and america?

2- why is it that when AIPAC speaks, all american politicians (republicans & democrats) listen and abide?

3- why is it that when they want something implemented in the movie industry, diamond trade, and money markets (to just name a few), it gets down like yesterday

all they have 2 say is jump ... and the response 9 outta 10 times is ... how hi ?!?

because of adolf

[KeonKish]

^ Because they have been doing this dirty lobbying for a long time.
Their religion tells them they are the "chosen people"
Hitler was crazy, but not an idiot.
Of course his solution was totally incorrect.
But they pretty much have america in the grip of their hands.

[Shamim]

Isreal was in the WC in 1970, it was easier for them to do the wolrd when they in AFC than in EURO.