Amnesty International calls on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israeli Football Association
Amnesty International has sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from their tournaments until it excludes clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) from continuing to play in Israel’s football leagues.
“As Israel’s national football team gears up for World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Italy, Israel continues to perpetrate genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Over 800 athletes, players and sports officials are among the more than 65,000 people Israeli forces have killed in a deliberate campaign of wholesale devastation, forced displacement and starvation of civilians,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“At the same time, Israel is brutally expanding its illegal settlements and legitimizing illegal outposts in the West Bank as part of its unlawful occupation of Palestinian Territory. It is nothing short of a disgrace that the IFA is still allowing clubs from these settlements to keep playing in its leagues, after multiple warnings for more than a decade.”
There are at least six clubs based in settlements in the OPT currently playing in Israeli leagues, in violation of both international law and FIFA’s own statutes. Article 64.2 of FIFA’s statutes states that “Member associations and their clubs may not play on the territory of another member association without the latter’s approval.”
There should be no place in football, or indeed in any sport, for clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General
The FIFA Council is scheduled to meet on 2 October, with the Palestinian Football Association still waiting for action to be taken in response to a formal complaint it lodged in March 2024.
Suspending the IFA would mean that neither FIFA nor UEFA would provide it with funding, nor would Israeli national or club teams be able to play in international competitions until the IFA complies with international law and FIFA statutes. It would also mean the IFA loses membership and voting rights throughout its suspension.
“There should be no place in football, or indeed in any sport, for clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The IFA is shamelessly contributing to Israel’s violations of international law by providing sporting and economic opportunities that help sustain, these illegal settlements,” said Agnès Callamard.
“Football is not played in a vacuum. FIFA and UEFA must accept their responsibilities under international law and stop letting Israeli national teams and club sides participate in international or European football until the IFA suspends all clubs from illegal settlements.”
