Turin, Oct. 1 (LaPresse) – Amnesty International has sent a letter to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), urging them to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from their tournaments until it excludes teams from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. In turn, Amnesty International Italy has written to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to advocate for the same request with FIFA and UEFA.
“While, as part of the qualification for the upcoming World Cup, the Israeli national football team is preparing to face Norway and Italy, Israel continues to perpetrate genocide against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. More than 800 athletes, players, and sports officials are among the over 65,000 people killed by Israel in an intentional campaign of total devastation, forced displacement, and starvation of the civilian population,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International.
“At the same time, Israel is brutally expanding its illegal settlements and legalizing illegal outposts in the West Bank as part of its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. It is truly a disgrace that the IFA continues to allow teams from these settlements to play in its leagues after over ten years of calls to stop,” Callamard added.
Football, Amnesty International urges FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel
