Israel’s football team faces mounting opposition as global scrutiny intensifies over the country’s military actions in Gaza. Those World Cup qualifiers in Norway and against Italy will go ahead as scheduled. The proposal has spawned a wave of criticism from legal scholars, sports stakeholders, and human rights activists. This deplorable state of affairs begs the question, what exactly are FIFA and UEFA for? Both organizations have been criticized for double standards in applying their judgment based on the geopolitical rivalry of countries involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
FIFA’s reaction to the unfolding situation has been characteristically half-hearted, with senior officials claiming that FIFA can’t be expected to “resolve geopolitical issues.” No doubt tens of thousands of veterans are rightfully outraged by this position. They are rightfully calling on all sports governing bodies to take immediate action to curb human rights abuses and violence associated with their mega events. The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has documented violations of FIFA statutes by the Israel Football Association (IFA) on numerous occasions. This accusation muddles an already touchy subject even more.
Calls for Action Against Israel
As a result of the escalating violence in Gaza, over 30 legal experts have had enough. They are calling on UEFA to ban Israel and Israeli clubs from all competitions. These experts insist that the growing conflict and violence, which have severely affected Palestinian athletes, should be given urgent attention by governing bodies of sports.
Israeli airstrikes allegedly killed at least 421 Palestinian soccer players. They have leveled sports infrastructure in Gaza. This unique situation has put an incredible strain on the sport at the grassroots level. It has made the sport one of the key talking points in national and international political debates.
“It is difficult to explain and understand that there is a double standard. It is important that sport, given this situation, takes a position at least similar to what it did against Russia.” – Abdullah Al-Arian
The recent issue has led to serious divisions and discussion among pro-Palestinian forces, as some demand a solidarity boycott and others oppose targeting Israeli teams. Former footballer Eric Cantona emphasized this sentiment by stating, “Clubs everywhere must refuse to play Israeli teams.”
Geopolitical Implications and Reactions
The international community’s response has been varied. In this time of global support for Palestinian athletes, other countries have decided to continue cozying up to Israel. Notably, the Italian government has largely backed Israel during the ongoing conflict, even as protests erupt across Italy demanding a ceasefire and critiquing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration.
Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria is publicly in favor of action against Israeli teams. She proposes that they should receive the same sanctions that Russian teams did following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Norway’s government, meanwhile, is still reviewing investments in Israel with its own sovereign wealth fund. This decision demonstrates the growing pressure on the international community to reconsider its support for Israel in light of numerous reports alleging human rights violations.
“FIFA has been under pressure for two years, but it escalated after the latest UN finding on Israel’s genocide in Gaza and led to a real mobilisation.” – Abdullah Al-Arian
Despite these pressures, FIFA continues to evade the point. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, stated, “We are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.” Critics say that this pledge is empty when compared to the deadly attacks, fear and pain that Palestinian footballers live with.
Historical Context and Ongoing Challenges
Isaiah’s call for Israel to be expelled from international football is a far-reaching one. After the expulsion of the country from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1974, this decision followed a UN Security Council vote that highlighted Israel’s increasingly fraught relations with its neighbors in the Middle East. Today, Israel participates in UEFA competitions. This opens the door for questioning its eligibility and moral standing as it has faced accusations of perpetrating egregious international law violations.
The Palestinian Football Association has briefly elaborated Israeli policies that have methodically shattered the foundation of football in Gaza. International matches have been impossible in Palestine for the past several years because of security concerns and extensive infrastructural damage. The cost to local athletes is staggering, many have been subjected to harm or incarceration, ending their athletic careers prematurely.
“And this is before we even get into the violence to which Palestinian footballers have been exposed. A number of players have been shot or imprisoned, held at checkpoints over the years, and entire careers have been destroyed.” – Abdullah Al-Arian
The political ties and relationships established over decades of quid pro quo service makes serious retaliatory moves regarding Israel difficult at best. Abdullah Al-Arian noted that “the political, economic and commercial relationships that have been established make it really difficult for states to take action.”
