Over 30 legal professionals have urged the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to exclude Israel and its football clubs from all competitions in response to the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.
In a letter sent to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Thursday, the group emphasized that banning Israel is essential, referencing a United Nations investigation that concluded Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
The letter called on UEFA and its affiliates to “honor their legal and ethical duties by enforcing international law and immediately imposing a full ban on Israeli football.”
It detailed the devastating impact of Israel’s military actions on Gaza’s football community, noting that since the offensive began in October 2023, at least 421 Palestinian footballers have lost their lives. The letter also condemned the systematic destruction of Gaza’s football facilities due to Israel’s bombing campaign.
“This violence has wiped out an entire generation of athletes, severely damaging the foundation of Palestinian sports,” the letter stated.
Furthermore, it criticized the Israel Football Association (IFA) for its silence and failure to oppose these violations, arguing that this complicity makes Israel’s participation in UEFA events unacceptable.
Among the signatories were Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, executive director of the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, alongside former UN officials and international law scholars.
“UEFA must not enable sports-washing of such blatant breaches of international law, including genocide,” the letter asserted.
This appeal comes amid mounting global condemnation of Israel’s harsh military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in over 66,000 deaths and widespread destruction of the enclave.
The ongoing blockade restricting humanitarian aid has also triggered severe famine conditions, affecting more than half a million residents as declared in August.
Historical Precedents for Sports Sanctions
Craig Mokhiber, former director at the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ New York office, warned that permitting a nation accused of genocide to compete in sports normalizes its actions, effectively making others complicit.
He drew parallels to the global isolation of apartheid South Africa, where unified sports and cultural boycotts played a crucial role in pressuring the regime to change.
FIFA’s suspension of South Africa in 1961 was a landmark moment in the fight against racial segregation and violence.
More recently, FIFA and UEFA swiftly suspended Russia in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
“It’s strikingly hypocritical that Russia faced immediate sanctions for its aggression, yet UEFA hesitates to act against Israel amid an ongoing genocide and apartheid-like conditions,” Mokhiber remarked.
Palestinian advocates have long demanded Israel’s exclusion from international football, partly due to Israeli teams operating in illegal settlements within the occupied West Bank.
FIFA’s regulations clearly prohibit member associations and clubs from playing on another member’s territory without consent, yet Israeli teams continue to participate in UEFA and FIFA competitions.
Although geographically in West Asia, Israel joined UEFA in 1994, largely due to boycotts from Arab and Muslim countries.
Escalating Demands to Exclude Israel
Despite the ongoing violence in Gaza, Israel’s national team remains active in European World Cup qualifiers, and clubs like Maccabi Tel Aviv FC compete in UEFA tournaments such as the Europa League.
However, calls to isolate Israel from global football have intensified recently.
Supporters across cities like Glasgow, Paris, Rome, and Bilbao have displayed Palestinian flags at matches, defying restrictions to express solidarity with Gaza.
Following the death of Palestinian football icon Suleiman al-Obeid in an Israeli airstrike in August, there were widespread appeals for an end to the violence.
UEFA itself paid tribute by sharing al-Obeid’s photo on social media, calling him the “Palestinian Pele” and acknowledging his inspirational role for children amid hardship.
Yet, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah criticized UEFA for omitting details about the circumstances of al-Obeid’s death, demanding transparency.
In a subsequent UEFA Super Cup pre-match ceremony, a banner reading “Stop killing civilians. Stop killing children.” was displayed, and two Palestinian refugee children were included in the medal presentation by the UEFA Foundation.
Reports from Europe indicated UEFA was poised to vote on suspending Israel, but the decision was delayed following the release of a ceasefire proposal for Gaza by former US President Donald Trump.
The letter to UEFA cautioned that Trump’s plan does not relieve the federation of its duty to ban Israel, as it undermines international law, Palestinian sovereignty, and self-determination.
It further criticized the plan for failing to hold Israel accountable as the occupying power in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, and for neglecting reparations related to the genocide.
“True peace requires justice and accountability,” the letter concluded.
Human Rights Groups Demand Action
Amnesty International joined the call on Wednesday, urging FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel.
“As Israel’s national team prepares for World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Italy, the country continues its genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza,” stated Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary-general.
She also condemned Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements and the legitimization of unauthorized outposts in the West Bank, actions that violate international law.
Despite mounting international pressure, no European nation or club has withdrawn from matches against Israeli teams since the conflict escalated.
Notably, a boycott would result in an automatic 3-0 victory awarded to Israel.
Ashish Prashar, campaign director at Game Over Israel-the organization behind the letter-highlighted football’s unique power to unite people worldwide as the most popular sport.
“Cultural engagement is often exploited to normalize atrocities, which benefits perpetrators more than even political platforms like the UN,” Prashar explained.
“Following the example set by the anti-apartheid movement, it is crucial to exclude Israel from cultural arenas, especially sports, starting with football.”
Game Over Israel has spearheaded media efforts to raise awareness about the genocide in Gaza and advocate for a football boycott.
Last month, the group sponsored a prominent billboard in New York’s Times Square declaring, “Israel is committing genocide. Soccer federations: Boycott Israel.”
FIFA and Geopolitics: A Complex Relationship
With the United States co-hosting next year’s World Cup and President Trump maintaining a close rapport with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, skepticism remains about FIFA’s willingness to sanction Israel.
Prashar expressed doubts about FIFA’s readiness to act but noted that decisive boycotts by individual countries could compel the federation to respond.
Infantino recently stated, “FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts, but it must promote football worldwide by leveraging its unifying, educational, cultural, and humanitarian values.”
Mokhiber countered that football should unite people around positive principles, not provide cover for a nation committing genocide.
“Given Infantino’s close ties to Trump, his statement is unsurprising. However, history shows that football bans and boycotts have been integral to FIFA’s approach since its inception,” Mokhiber said.
Prashar also questioned where FIFA would draw the line, challenging Infantino by asking, “Would he have allowed Nazi Germany to compete while perpetrating genocide?”
Neither FIFA nor UEFA had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
