FIFA ignores calls to ban Israel over Gaza war as Infantino makes stance clear
There has been increasing pressure on FIFA to act and ban Israel from competing on the international stage due to the conflict in Gaza, but president Gianni Infantino has swerved the issue
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says football must promote the message of “peace and unity” amid continued calls for the suspension of Israel from the sport at international level.
Human rights charity Amnesty International has echoed calls from the Palestinian Football Association to suspend the Israeli federation from club and national team competitions run by FIFA and UEFA. Both the charity and the PFA have pointed to the presence of teams based in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within the Israeli leagues, which they say constitutes a breach of FIFA rules.
A United Nations commission of inquiry report earlier this month concluded Israel has committed genocide in its attacks on Gaza. Infantino told his organisation’s ruling council on Thursday that football “cannot solve geopolitical problems, but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values”.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” he added. “Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
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Sources told the PA news agency last week that UEFA was putting plans in place to schedule an extraordinary meeting of its executive committee to discuss Israel’s suspension, but no meeting has been scheduled yet. Israel has been a member of UEFA since 1994.
Relations between FIFA, domestic leagues and unions remain strained, with a FIFA media release saying the FIFA Council resolved to be “strong and united” against “public attacks…of certain organisations” which “poses a threat” to the global football pyramid.
FIFA faces a legal challenge in the Belgian courts from the Professional Footballers’ Association, alongside the French player union and the European division of world player union FIFPRO, as well as a legal complaint from FIFPRO Europe and the European Leagues group to the European Commission.
Both actions are in relation to what leagues and unions see as a lack of consultation from FIFA over the international calendar, which they argue has had a negative impact on player welfare. FIFA sees its role as being to govern in the best interests of the game globally.
The media release added: “The motivations of these organisations are outside of the established pyramid model that supports club and national team football at global, continental and national level. The FIFA Council acknowledged that this poses a threat to the existing global football pyramid structure and reiterated the need to be strong and united in the face of these attacks.”
Infantino said: “FIFA will continue to invite all stakeholders interested in a meaningful dialogue to protect players, to find the right balance between club and national team football at global level, and to improve football for the future.”
FIFA’s relationship with the European Club Association appears strong, illustrated by the presence of its chairman, Nasser Al Khelaifi, at Thursday’s Council meeting in Zurich.
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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