ISRAEL COULD FORFEIT CLASH

ISRAELI football chiefs have pleaded with their government to overturn a shock decision to forbid teams from travelling abroad – a move that would see them forfeit two games against Scotland later this year.

The Scots return to action in September with a Nations League clash against Israel at Hampden and face the same nation in the twice-postponed Euro 2020 play-off semi the following month.

But the Israelis have been left reeling after their government’s Ministry of Health announced they would not allow any teams to play international games outside their country for the foreseeable future.

It’s due to a second wave of coronavirus – the worst in the world – which has seen the country go back into lockdown.

And Israeli FA chairman Oren Hasson has revealed

BY ALAN MARSHALL he’s desperately hunting a solution after a meeting with their Health Minister.

He said: “Israel cannot afford to be absent from the international football arena. We have formulated an orderly, responsible and implementable plan to the government – the purpose to ensure the maintenance of the health of players and professional teams.

“The minister is well aware of the enormous importance for our football and for the state of Israel in its participation in the European arena of international teams.

“And he has emphasised that he would do his best to ensure we will be able to compete in UEFA’s official competitions.

“We will continue to work together to try to ensure Israel fulfil our international football obligations.”