Dozens of athletes have joined rights groups to demand that European Football Association (UEFA) suspend Israel for violating the rights of Palestinians.
Athletes for Peace, a group of more than 70 sports experts, called on the governing body to sever ties with the Israel Football Association (IFA) in a letter delivered to UEFA President Alexander Ceferin late on Wednesday.
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“Regimes that commit genocide, apartheid, and other crimes against humanity should not be welcome in any shared forum, stage, or arena of international civil society,” the letter said.
“Israel’s continued impunity for such crimes will only end with the weight of collective conscientious action, including measures to block Israel’s admission to sporting and cultural events and activities.”
Athletes who have endorsed the call include French World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi, Moroccan player Hakim Ziyech and Spanish winger Adama Traore.
Human rights organizations such as Game Over Israel, the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Gaza Tribunal also signed the letter.
The petition continues a campaign calling for UEFA to ban Israel from the event due to atrocities committed during the Gaza War.
In September, Turkish Football Federation President Ibrahim Hasiosmanoglu also supported calls to suspend Israel from European football. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) passed a similar resolution earlier this month.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire nominally ended Israel’s assault on Gaza last month, but Israel continues to limit aid and kill Palestinians in the territory.
Major rights groups and UN investigators have described Israel’s war on Gaza as genocide. As many as 69,182 Palestinians, including 421 soccer players, were killed in the Israeli attack.
The war has destroyed Gaza’s sports infrastructure, including stadiums and training facilities.
Moreover, Israel continues to strengthen its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, imposing a regime that the International Court of Justice has said is “tantamount to the crime of apartheid.”
Wednesday’s letter claimed that Israel is using soccer to justify its occupation in these areas.
For example, the country allows clubs from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank to participate in professional leagues, a clear violation of FIFA rules.
“The participation of teams from illegal settlements in the Israeli soccer league violates fundamental principles of international law,” Wednesday’s letter said.
“The relationship between UEFA and IFA (funding and allowing Israeli teams to compete in international tournaments) means that UEFA also facilitates these violations and may find itself liable.”
The participation of Israeli clubs in European football competitions has been a source of debate and controversy over the past two years.
Last year, clashes broke out in Amsterdam between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC fans after Israeli hooligans were heard shouting “death to the Arabs”, attacking a taxi driver and tearing a Palestinian flag from the wall of a house.
In October, Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from visiting for a Europa League game against Aston Villa, triggering a political crisis in Britain and sparking accusations of anti-Semitism.
“This decision is based on current information and previous incidents involving violent clashes and hate crime crimes that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam,” West Midlands Police said in a statement earlier this month.
But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government quickly objected to the police decision, ignoring the security considerations behind it, prompting criticism from Palestinian rights groups.
“We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets,” Starmer said in a social media post following the ban.
“The role of the police is to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the match without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv, who sit 34th in the Europa League with one point after four games, lost 2-0 to Aston Villa last week.
Wednesday’s letter to UEFA stressed that banning a country for violating international law is not unprecedented. In fact, that’s the standard.
“It is well known that soccer governing bodies such as UEFA have historically suspended countries from soccer for serious violations of international law, including apartheid South Africa, post-war Germany, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, more recently, Russia,” it said.
“In accordance with international law and moral precedent, we urge Israel to stop immediately.”
