Israel Football Chief Defends Coach, Vows to Bring Games Home

Following a disappointing international window, Israel's national football team returned to Ben Gurion Airport on Monday. Shino Zuarz, Chairman of the Football Association, addressed the team's professional standing and the possibility of returning home games to Israel.

Zuarz acknowledged the disappointing results, stating, "The results were disappointing. The players gave everything they could, and the professional and logistical staff did everything possible. Unfortunately, the results were not good, we will need to understand where we fell short and fix it." He specifically mentioned the match against Austria, where he felt officiating in the final minutes decided the outcome, and a "clear collapse" against Ireland. However, he praised the team's performance against Kosovo as "excellent," despite not securing a win.

Despite the criticism, Zuarz defended coach Ran Ben Shimon, saying, "I compliment Ran for the very good job he has done. In football, you can also lose." He dismissed "background noise" affecting the team and expressed confidence in their chosen path, stating, "There is a way, and we will continue on it."

Regarding the return of games to Israel, Zuarz expressed a strong desire to host matches domestically again. He cited the current narrative against Israel, particularly in Europe, and the challenges faced by teams like Hapoel Be'er Sheva, who were prevented from having fans attend a match. He noted that countries like Ukraine and Belarus are also not hosting games due to their war status. "When the situation ends, I will do everything to bring the games back to Israel," he pledged.

Zuarz also emphasized UEFA's support for Israeli football, highlighting their role in ensuring matches proceeded, even when other nations were hesitant. He declared that qualifying for the Euros is the "main goal," and if they fail to do so through the Nations League, they will attempt to qualify through the main qualifiers.