International players to miss club games owing to rescheduled Euro 2024 qualifier between Israel and Kosovo

Israel and Kosovo internationals are set to miss action with their clubs after UEFA rescheduled a Euro 2024 qualifier in Kosovo for November 12.

UEFA postponed the Euro 2024 qualifier between Kosovo and Israel scheduled for 15 October earlier this month.

This means Israel still have four matches to cram in before the end of qualifying in November, leading to the unusual situation where clubs will have to release players outside of the international window.

The only Israeli international in the Premier League, Tottenham’s Manor Solomon, will miss the next few months for club and country due to injury.

But the likes of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, Red Bull Salzburg wonderkid Oscar Gloukh and Granada striker Shon Weissman could miss club matches to help their country try to reach a first major tournament since 1970.

A number of Kosovans playing in Europe’s major leagues such as Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, Edon Zhegrova of Lille and Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi could also miss a weekend’s action for their clubs.

Clubs outside of Israel and Kosovo will only have to release one player.

In a statement, UEFA said: “The obligation to release players will be limited to a maximum of one player per club not affiliated to one of the associations involved in the matches and the release will be due only two days prior to the matches in question, based on a special FIFA decision motivated by the exceptional circumstances, as no dates could be found in the November international windows.”

Israel are well in contention to qualify automatically for Germany next year. Alon Hazan’s side are five points behind Group I leaders Romania with two games in hand and four adrift of Switzerland having played one game less.

The top two teams in each group will progress to Euro 2024, while Israel’s success in the Nations League means they are also guaranteed at least a play-off should they fail to secure automatic qualification.

However, it remains to be seen where key home games against Switzerland on November 15 and Romania three days later will be played.

Last week, UEFA’s Executive Committee decided that no matches shall be played in Israel until further notice. The Israeli Football Association and club sides Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are involved in European club competition, have been requested to propose alternative venues outside the country.

Two games in the Women’s Nations League were also rearranged by UEFA with Israel facing Kazakhstan twice on November 23 and 26.

A minute's silence was observed ahead of all Premier League games last weekend to remember the victims of the conflict.

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