UN experts call to suspend Israel of international football competitions

Experts from the United Nations ask FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israel national team, saying that such a measure is necessary in the face of the “current genocide” in the occupied Palestinian territory. Based on the conclusions of the UN commission of inquiry and the opinion of the International Court of Justice, they recall that states and sports organizations have the obligation not to remain neutral.

Experts underline that this suspension would target the Israeli state and not the players individually, while urging sports bodies to no longer “normalize injustice” by sport as long as the massive violations of international law continue. They recall that precedents exist, in particular the exclusion of South Africa during apartheid or Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, and deem inconsistent that international competitions continue to welcome Israel while attacks against Gaza continue. According to them, sport cannot escape the responsibility of protecting human rights.

This position strengthens the calls of civil society and several solidarity movements with Palestine, which multiply the initiatives of sporty and cultural boycott. For experts, the exclusion of Israel would send a strong signal in favor of international law and the end of violence in Gaza.