A global campaign calling for a ban on Israeli football is gaining strong momentum. More than 30 international legal experts have written a formal letter to UEFA, urging the European football body to suspend Israel from all football competitions due to ongoing violations of international law.
According to the letter, Israel’s actions in Palestine constitute a serious breach of human rights and sporting ethics, warranting immediate exclusion from UEFA events. The appeal also calls on UEFA member associations to support the suspension in the name of justice and fairness.
Hundreds of Palestinian Footballers have been Killed Since October 2023
The letter highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on Palestinian athletes, revealing that since October 2023, more than 421 Palestinian footballers have lost their lives in Israeli attacks.
Signatories to the appeal include several former United Nations officials and international law experts, emphasizing the moral and legal obligation of UEFA to take decisive action.
UN Official Calls It a Matter of Ethical Responsibility
Former UN representative Craig Mokhiber strongly condemned Israel’s participation in international sports, stating, “Allowing a state engaged in genocide to compete in sports is an act of normalization.”
Mokhiber’s statement draws a comparison with how FIFA and UEFA swiftly banned Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, suggesting that similar standards should apply to Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza and the occupied territories.
Violation of FIFA Rules in Occupied Territories
Legal experts also pointed out that several Israeli football clubs play matches in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is a direct violation of FIFA’s regulations.
FIFA’s rules clearly state that no club is permitted to hold matches on land belonging to another country without authorization. Despite this, Israeli clubs continue to operate in these areas, raising concerns over UEFA and FIFA’s inaction.
Growing Pressure from Palestinian Supporters and Human Rights Groups
Palestinian activists and human rights organizations have been demanding Israel’s expulsion from global football for decades. They argue that as long as Israeli teams continue to participate in international competitions, it undermines the values of equality, fairness, and peace that sport is meant to represent.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli national and club teams are still competing in European World Cup qualifiers, drawing criticism from several advocacy groups that view this as a double standard in global sports governance.
A Call for Accountability in Global Football
As the pressure builds, UEFA faces growing scrutiny over its stance on the issue. The legal experts behind the petition insist that sport cannot remain neutral in the face of humanitarian crises, and that upholding justice should take precedence over political considerations.
Their message is clear: if football truly stands for unity and fair play, it cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of innocent athletes and civilians.
In short, Legal experts and human rights advocates are intensifying their call for UEFA to suspend Israel from international football, citing widespread violations of international law and FIFA regulations. The growing movement seeks to hold Israel accountable in the same way other nations have been, reaffirming that sports must not ignore human rights abuses.