The Lebanese Football Association (LFA) has indefinitely postponed all football matches in its affiliated domestic tournaments due to the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s recent attacks in southern Lebanon. The decision comes as the situation in the region continues to deteriorate, raising fears of an all-out war. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 558 people, including 50 children, have lost their lives, with 1,835 others reported injured since the bombardment began on Friday.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, with numbers continuing to rise as the conflict unfolds. In light of these circumstances, the LFA’s executive committee announced the postponement of all tournaments, stating, “Due to the current situation in the country, the executive committee of the Lebanese Football Association has decided to postpone matches of all tournaments to a date to be determined later.” This decision comes just days after the opening day of the Lebanese Premier League, which is the country’s premier domestic men’s football competition. Match day two of the 2024-2025 season was set to take place from September 27 to 29.
Lebanon does not have any scheduled international fixtures in the upcoming months, having last hosted a game at home on December 28, when the men’s national team played Jordan in a friendly. Their next friendly matches against India and Vietnam are set to occur in Vietnam on October 12 and October 15, respectively.
The ongoing conflict has also impacted domestic football in Palestine, where all matches are currently suspended due to the war in Gaza, which erupted following attacks in southern Israel on October 7. The last game in the Palestine Professional League was played on October 6, while the men’s national team has been continuing its international fixtures abroad. The Palestine Football Association has reported that at least 410 athletes, sports officials, and coaches have lost their lives in the Gaza conflict, including 297 footballers and 84 children.
As the situation in Lebanon and the region continues to unfold, the hope remains that peace will be restored, allowing for the safe return of normalcy, including the resumption of football and other sporting activities.
