Palestine FA Urges Immediate Sanctions on Israeli Soccer

Geneva, Switzerland – Palestinian officials are gearing up to escalate their campaign against Israel in international soccer during the upcoming annual FIFA congress in Thailand. The Palestine Football Association has put forward a proposal to FIFA’s 211 member federations, urging for immediate sanctions against Israeli teams due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

The motion, outlined in FIFA documents released ahead of the May 17 congress, highlights “international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza.” It emphasizes FIFA’s statutory commitments to human rights and anti-discrimination.

According to the Palestine FA, all football infrastructure in Gaza, including the historic Al-Yarmuk stadium, has either been destroyed or severely damaged. They claim support for their motion from several federations, including Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Yemen.

However, despite Palestinian efforts, the call for sanctions against Israeli soccer is unlikely to gain traction within FIFA. Israel enjoys widespread global backing, including from UEFA, the European soccer body it joined 30 years ago. Additionally, a recent cooperation deal between Israeli officials and CONMEBOL, the South American soccer body, further strengthens Israel’s position.

Palestinian officials cite the example of FIFA and UEFA’s decision to ban Russian teams from international competitions during the military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, Israel’s situation differs, as it continues to receive support and participation in UEFA competitions despite the conflict with Hamas.

Israeli national and club teams have continued to compete in UEFA competitions since the October 7 attacks by Hamas, albeit with home games held in neutral venues for security reasons.

Looking ahead, Israel is set to participate in the men’s soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics in July, where they will face teams such as Mali, Paraguay, and an Asian team.

Despite the Palestinian FA’s proposal, there is skepticism regarding the willingness of some football associations to boycott games against Israel. Past instances, such as Indonesia being stripped of hosting rights for the men’s Under-20 World Cup for refusing to host games for Israel, highlight the complexities surrounding the issue.

The soccer dispute between Palestine and Israel has been a recurring agenda item at FIFA congresses since 2013, but significant progress has yet to be achieved. Palestinian soccer leader Jibril Rajoub has previously urged FIFA to sanction Israel for incorporating teams from disputed territories into its national leagues.

Under the leadership of both Gianni Infantino and Sepp Blatter, FIFA has not held Israeli soccer responsible for actions taken by the national government, including policies limiting travel for Palestinian players.