German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned the potential exclusion of Israel from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, calling it “a scandal” and leaving open the possibility that Germany could withdraw from the competition in protest.
Speaking to Germany’s ARD public television, Merz stated: “I think it is a scandal that this is even being discussed. Israel has a place in the contest. If Israel is excluded, I would support Germany withdrawing voluntarily.”
The debate over Israel’s participation comes in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has led some countries to announce they would boycott the contest if Israel takes part. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed that the decision will be made by a member vote in November.
Public opinion in Germany, according to an ARD survey, favors Israel’s participation. 65% of Germans believe that Israeli artists and athletes should not be penalized for the actions of their government, while 24% support exclusion as a form of political pressure.
In the same interview, Merz also commented on sports technology, expressing openness to removing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football. He argued that “the desire for absolute perfection has gone too far,” suggesting that referees should be able to make decisions without multiple assistants, though he acknowledged he has not reached a final opinion on the matter.
Merz, a known football enthusiast and former supervisory board member of Borussia Dortmund, has been vocal about balancing fairness with simplicity in both sports and international cultural events like Eurovision.
