Amnesty International urges FIFA, UEFA to suspend “Israel” from tournaments over colonies in Palestine

LONDON, Oct. 02 (YPA) – Amnesty International on Wednesday called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from their tournaments until it excludes clubs based in illegal colonies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) from continuing to play in Israel’s football leagues.

“As “Israel’s” national football team gears up for World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Italy, Israel continues to perpetrate genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Over 800 athletes, players, and sports officials are among the more than 65,000 people Israeli forces have killed in a deliberate campaign of wholesale devastation, forced displacement, and starvation of civilians,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

At the same time, she said, “Israel” is brutally expanding its illegal colonies and legitimizing illegal outposts in the West Bank as part of its unlawful occupation of Palestinian Territory, adding that it is nothing short of a disgrace that the IFA is still allowing clubs from these colonies to keep playing in its leagues, after multiple warnings for more than a decade.

She indicated that there are at least six clubs based in settlements in the OPT currently playing in Israeli leagues, in violation of both international law and FIFA’s own statutes.  Article 64.2 of FIFA’s statutes states that “Member associations and their clubs may not play on the territory of another member association without the latter’s approval.”

@E.Y.M