Amnesty urges FIFA to suspend Israel from football

Amnesty International has demanded Israel be kicked out of world football over clubs playing in illegal West Bank settlements.

In a letter to FIFA and UEFA, the rights group called for the Israeli Football Association (IFA) to be suspended until it excludes settlement-based teams from its leagues, warning that football is being used to legitimise Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.

The appeal lands just days before Israel’s national team is due to face Norway and Italy in World Cup qualifiers.

Amnesty’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, said sport cannot be separated from Israel’s actions in Gaza.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Amnesty also accused the IFA of “shamelessly contributing to Israel’s violations of international law” by allowing clubs in illegal settlements to compete.

“Football is not played in a vacuum. FIFA and UEFA must accept their responsibilities under international law and stop letting Israeli national teams and club sides participate until the IFA suspends all clubs from illegal settlements,” Callamard added.

At least six clubs based in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) are currently playing in Israeli leagues, in violation of FIFA’s own statutes. Article 64.2 of FIFA’s rules states that clubs may not play on another association’s territory without approval.

The Palestinian Football Association lodged a formal complaint in March 2024, but no action has been taken. The FIFA Council is set to discuss the issue when it meets on 2 October.

Suspension would mean no FIFA or UEFA funding for the IFA, no international or European competition for Israeli teams, and a loss of voting rights for the association until compliance.

The controversy comes after a July 2024 International Court of Justice ruling declared Israel’s presence in the OPT unlawful and urged states and businesses to withdraw from dealings that entrench the occupation.

Amnesty has also accused FIFA and UEFA of indirectly contributing to rights violations by continuing to fund Israeli participation in global football despite the settlement issue.

The call now puts fresh pressure on world football’s leaders as they prepare to meet next week.