FIFA: Suspend Apartheid Israel

image of FIFA: Suspend Apartheid Israel

Both Israel and the State of Palestine are members of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and subject to its internal regulations.

Israel has violated the principles of FIFA in a variety of ways that would normally warrant disciplinary actions and even a suspension of its membership. However, the politics of FIFA have prevented the organization in the past from taking such action. Its internal by-laws have even been amended to make it more difficult for the Palestine Football Association (PFA) to demand such action.

Consequently, it is now the responsibility of civil society to apply the popular pressure necessary to bring this about.

Both Israel and the State of Palestine are members of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and subject to its internal regulations.

Israel has violated the principles of FIFA in a variety of ways that would normally warrant disciplinary actions and even a suspension of its membership. However, the politics of FIFA have prevented the organization in the past from taking such action. Its internal by-laws have even been amended to make it more difficult for the Palestine Football Association (PFA) to demand such action.

Consequently, it is now the responsibility of civil society to apply the popular pressure necessary to bring this about.

Tell FIFA: Suspend Apartheid Israel!

Send FIFA a letter telling them to Suspend Apartheid Israel! You can send the letter as written, or customize as you choose, including perhaps your own interest in football or specific information related to Israel's violation of international law.

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Dear President Infantino, Secretary General Samoura, and FIFA Leadership:

I write asking you to take action with regard to Israel's violations of FIFA's own principles.

Both Israel and the State of Palestine are members of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and subject to its internal regulations.

Israel has violated the principles of FIFA in a variety of ways that would normally warrant disciplinary actions and even a suspension of its membership. However, the politics of FIFA have prevented the organization in the past from taking such action. Its internal by-laws have even been amended to make it more difficult for the Palestine Football Association (PFA) to demand such action.

In the past, it has also been the policy of FIFA to punish any raising of Palestinian flags by players and clubs who are not Palestinian, on the basis that “politics and sports should not mix.” The Palestine Football Association (PFA) fought a legal battle for years with integrity and had their case illegally shut down; however, FIFA did not even bother following the legal process in their suspension of Russia. The hypocrisy and double standards are unacceptable. Palestinians have been treated unjustly.

Our objections include:

A. The Israeli Football Association (IFA) allows players, and even five clubs from the illegal Israeli settlements (legally under the jurisdiction of Palestine), to play in their national league without first obtaining permission from the PFA. This is a straightforward violation of FIFA regulations that must be addressed.

B. Israel, by means of its military administration and control of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, has taken a number of measures that harm the sport of football, including:

-International travel restrictions on Palestinian players and coaches
-Restricting the movement of football players between Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem
-Refusal to allow the building of stadiums and facilities in Area C of the West Bank, the only viable location for such facilities
-Failing to release Palestinian sports equipment from Israeli customs, as Israel controls all borders
-Administrative arrests of footballers and attacks upon, including the tear-gassing of, sports events

C. Finally, we object to the prevalence of blatantly racist sloganeering (“Death to Arabs”) and anti-Arab violence associated with IFA games. This runs counter to FIFA’s stated goal of confronting racism.

My ask is simple: 
FIFA must sanction the Israeli Football Association until the above objections have been resolved.

FIFA, as the umbrella organization for the sport of football in its entirety and its highest governing body, needs to carry out its legal and moral obligations.

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