Switzerland To Vote On Revoking UEFA's Tax Benefits

ISTANBUL, March 17 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Switzerland will vote Tuesday on whether to revoke UEFA's preferential tax status, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

Members of the Vaud canton council will vote on a resolution calling for the removal of tax exemptions for UEFA, whose headquarters are based in the canton.

The draft resolution notes that the Israeli Football Federation (IFA), while remaining a member of UEFA, has fielded a team and played matches in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank.

The resolution argues that UEFA's tax exemption -- predicated on promoting peace and fighting discrimination -- is undermined by the IFA’s continued membership. Consequently, it claims Swiss taxpayers are indirectly complicit in violations of international law due to this lack of sanctions.

Game Over Israel campaign director Ashish Prashar said UEFA must expel Israel from membership or accept the consequences of maintaining impunity.

"UEFA is at the forefront of funding and normalising the apartheid and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian territories by continuing to provide a subsidy and allowing the Israeli Football Association to be a member," he added.

Theophile Schenker, a member of the Vaud cantonal parliament, emphasised that UEFA did not expel Israel but instead approved the expansion of settlements, arguing that football deserves better.

The vote is expected to determine whether UEFA's tax exemption will continue, be suspended, or be made conditional.

It is calculated that losing the tax exemption could cost UEFA approximately 30 million euros per year.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU