Legal Experts Urge UEFA to Ban Israel from Football Over Gaza Genocide Allegations:

More than 30 international legal experts have called on UEFA to suspend Israel and its football clubs from all competitions, citing Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza and alleged violations of international law. The demand was made in a letter addressed to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, which argues that banning Israel is a legal and moral imperative. The letter refers to a United Nations report that accuses Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians. It calls on UEFA and its member associations to take a stand, just as they did with apartheid-era South Africa and, more recently, with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. The letter notes that at least 421 Palestinian footballers have been killed and much of Gaza’s football infrastructure has been destroyed. It accuses Israel of “systematically decimating an entire generation of athletes.” “The failure of the Israel Football Association (IFA) to condemn these actions implicates it in the broader system of oppression,” the letter states, arguing that Israel’s continued participation in UEFA competitions is no longer tenable. Prominent signatories include Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, Executive Director of the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, along with several former UN human rights experts and international law scholars. They accuse UEFA of sports-washing Israel’s human rights violations if no action is taken. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have echoed the call. Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty, criticized UEFA and FIFA for allowing Israel to compete in international tournaments despite its military actions and settlement expansions in the West Bank. Despite growing international pressure, no European club or national team has withdrawn from matches against Israeli teams. UEFA has yet to take formal action, although reports suggested that a vote on Israel’s suspension was under consideration but postponed following a ceasefire plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Critics argue that this move undermines international law and fails to hold Israel accountable. “Trump’s plan does not absolve UEFA of its responsibility,” the letter emphasizes. “True peace cannot come without justice and accountability.” Game Over Israel, the group behind the letter, has been campaigning for a football boycott. Last month, they sponsored a billboard in Times Square reading, “Israel is committing genocide. Soccer federations: Boycott Israel.” Campaign director Ashish Prashar said football must reflect the values of justice. “Culture normalizes injustice faster than politics,” he said. “We must follow the model of boycotts used against apartheid South Africa.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino has so far declined to act, stating, “FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems, but it must promote football’s unifying values.” However, critics argue that FIFA has a long history of taking stands—most notably banning South Africa in 1961 and Russia in 2022. Former UN official Craig Mokhiber warned that by allowing Israel to compete, football risks becoming complicit. “Would FIFA have allowed Nazi Germany to play while committing genocide?” he asked. As pressure mounts, UEFA and FIFA face growing scrutiny over their stance—and whether the world’s most popular sport can truly remain neutral in the face of mass human suffering.

NEWS