A group called Athletes for Peace has sent a letter to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), urging the organization to ban Israeli football teams. More than 70 athletes and human rights organizations have joined this initiative. The letter accuses Israel of genocide, apartheid, and other human rights violations against Palestinians.
On Tuesday (November 11), the letter was sent to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, calling on UEFA to sever ties with the Israel Football Association (IFA). It states that a state committing genocide and crimes against humanity should not be allowed a place on the international stage. Welcoming Israel in sports and cultural platforms, the letter argues, is equivalent to legitimizing its crimes.
The letter cites precedents such as the expulsion of South Africa, post-war Germany, Yugoslavia, and more recently Russia from football. Therefore, suspending Israel is described as both a moral and legal necessity.
Among the prominent footballers who supported this initiative are France’s World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech, Dutch player Anwar El Ghazi, and Spain’s Adama Traoré. Human rights organizations including the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Gaza Tribunal have also signed the letter.
The letter further states that allowing clubs from Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank to compete in its professional leagues violates FIFA regulations and international law. If UEFA continues to fund or allow Israeli teams to participate in competitions, it could be seen as complicit in these crimes.
Additionally, UN investigators have already classified Israel’s operations in Gaza as acts of genocide. The ongoing conflict has claimed more than 69,000 Palestinian lives, including 421 footballers. Israeli airstrikes have destroyed Gaza’s sports infrastructure — stadiums, training centers, and nearly all related facilities have been reduced to rubble.
