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The anti-Semitic scumbags in Europe are pushing to ban Israel from UEFA international competitions.
They're falsely claiming Israel is killing civilians and children. They even had the gall to unroll a "Stop Killing Children" banner at a game.
Everyone knows Europe is one of the most anti-Semitic places on Earth. This has to be stopped.
Report: UEFA Explores Israel Soccer Ban Even After Gaza Cease-fire
The banner at August’s UEFA Super Cup in Udine
Despite shelving a September vote, UEFA continued meeting with pro-Palestinian activists to collect human-rights testimony that could influence future decisions, even after a Gaza cease-fire, as more than 70 athletes call to suspend Israel over 'crimes against humanity'
Executives at UEFA, European soccer's governing body, have had meetings with pro-Palestinian activists regarding suspending Israel from international competitions even after a cease-fire in Gaza was reached, according to a new report.
The Athletic reported on Monday that UEFA had been close to calling for a vote on banning Israel from participation in late September, but ultimately, a decision was made not to bring the issue to a vote after a U.S.-brokered cease-fire was agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas.
However, even after the cease-fire, UEFA officials continued to meet with representatives from Game Over Israel – a coalition of advocacy organizations and fan groups calling on European soccer federations to boycott Israel. Those meetings reportedly focused on the manner in which a ban could be enforced.
While stating that UEFA is "unlikely to suspend Israel" through its executive committee, The Athletic reports that the organization is "closely monitoring" two legal proceedings, by Ireland and Switzerland, which could force UEFA's hand and necessitate a ban against Israel.
The report also cites a meeting that took place in October, during which UEFA officials reportedly asked Game Over Israel to receive testimony from human rights experts – a step which would assist in UEFA's decision-making process in the future. The European soccer association declined to comment on The Athletic's reporting.
Last month, more than 70 prominent athletes signed a letter calling on UEFA to suspend Israel. The letter, delivered to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, was initiated by the group "Athletes for Peace" and states that the signatories are deeply concerned by UEFA's inaction regarding Israel's suspension from European football.
Signatories include Monaco midfielder and former France and Manchester United star Paul Pogba, Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucouré, former players Anwar El Ghazi, Hamza Choudhury and Hakim Ziyech, as well as coach Nigel Pearson. International cricket star Moeen Ali also joined the list, which is expected to grow in the coming days.
UEFA President Ceferin with two Gazan refugees, 12-year-old Tala and 9-year-old Muhammad, after the European Super Cup in August.
"No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid and other crimes against humanity," the letter said.
In September, A UN-appointed team of experts called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from football in response to an independent UN commission of inquiry that concluded genocide is taking place in Gaza and that Israel is responsible.
More than 70 athletes call on UEFA to ban Israel over rights abuses Paul Pogba and Hakim Ziyech join letter saying that venues should not welcome ‘a regime that commits genocide’.
“It is well-known that football governance bodies, such as UEFA, have historically suspended states from football for egregious violations of international law – apartheid South Africa, post-war Germany, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and more recently, Russia,” it said.
“We urge you to follow international law and moral precedent and suspend Israel immediately.”
Dozens of athletes have joined rights groups in calling for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel due to rights abuses against Palestinians.
In a letter delivered to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Tuesday, Athletes for Peace, a group that includes more than 70 sports professionals, backed a call for the governing body to sever ties with the Israel Football Association (IFA).
“No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid, and other crimes against humanity,” the letter, penned by Game Over Israel, read.
“Israel’s continued impunity for such crimes will only be ended by the weight of collective conscientious action, including measures to block their entry to sporting or cultural events and activities.”
The athletes who endorsed the call include French World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi, Moroccan player Hakim Ziyech and Spanish winger Adama Traore.
Human rights advocacy groups, including the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Gaza Tribunal, also signed the letter.
The petition marks a continuation of a campaign demanding that UEFA ban Israel from its events, citing atrocities committed during its war on Gaza.
In September, Turkish Football Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu also backed the call for suspending Israel from European football. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) passed a similar resolution earlier this month.
Although a United States-brokered ceasefire nominally ended the Israeli assault on Gaza last month, Israel has continued to restrict aid and kill Palestinians in the territory.
Leading rights groups and United Nations investigators have described Israel’s war on Gaza as a genocide. As many as 69,182 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli assault, including 421 footballers.
The war destroyed the sport’s infrastructure in Gaza, including stadiums and training facilities.
Moreover, Israel continues to entrench its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, imposing a regime that the International Court of Justice says is “tantamount to the crime of apartheid”.
The rights groups’ letter argued that Israel has used football to legitimise its occupation in those areas.
The country, for example, allows clubs from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank to participate in its professional leagues, in an apparent violation of FIFA rules.
“The participation of teams from illegal settlements in Israeli football leagues is a breach of fundamental principles of international law,” Tuesday’s letter read.
“UEFA’s relationship with the IFA – providing funding and allowing Israeli teams to play in international tournaments – means that UEFA may also be facilitating these violations and may themselves be accountable.”
Israeli clubs’ participation in European football competitions has been a source of debate and controversy over the past two years.
Last year, clashes between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC fans broke out in Amsterdam after Israeli hooligans were heard chanting “death to the Arabs”, attacking taxi drivers and removing Palestinian flags from the walls of private homes.
In October, a ban on visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in a Europa League game against Aston Villa sparked a political crisis in the United Kingdom, as well as accusations of anti-Semitism.
“This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Amsterdam,” the West Midlands Police said in a statement earlier this month.
But the government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quick to oppose the police’s decision and dismiss the security considerations behind it, sparking criticism from Palestinian rights advocates.
“We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets,” Starmer said in a social media post in response to the ban.
“The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which sits in 34th place in the Europa League standings with one point from four games, ended up losing the match 2-0 to Aston Villa last week.
Tuesday’s letter to UEFA stressed that banning a country that violates international law would not be unprecedented; it is, in fact, the norm.
“It is well-known that football governance bodies, such as UEFA, have historically suspended states from football for egregious violations of international law – apartheid South Africa, post-war Germany, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and more recently, Russia,” it said.
“We urge you to follow international law and moral precedent and suspend Israel immediately.”
They're falsely claiming Israel is killing civilians and children. They even had the gall to unroll a "Stop Killing Children" banner at a game.
Everyone knows Europe is one of the most anti-Semitic places on Earth. This has to be stopped.
Report: UEFA Explores Israel Soccer Ban Even After Gaza Cease-fire
The banner at August’s UEFA Super Cup in Udine
Despite shelving a September vote, UEFA continued meeting with pro-Palestinian activists to collect human-rights testimony that could influence future decisions, even after a Gaza cease-fire, as more than 70 athletes call to suspend Israel over 'crimes against humanity'
Executives at UEFA, European soccer's governing body, have had meetings with pro-Palestinian activists regarding suspending Israel from international competitions even after a cease-fire in Gaza was reached, according to a new report.
The Athletic reported on Monday that UEFA had been close to calling for a vote on banning Israel from participation in late September, but ultimately, a decision was made not to bring the issue to a vote after a U.S.-brokered cease-fire was agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas.
However, even after the cease-fire, UEFA officials continued to meet with representatives from Game Over Israel – a coalition of advocacy organizations and fan groups calling on European soccer federations to boycott Israel. Those meetings reportedly focused on the manner in which a ban could be enforced.
While stating that UEFA is "unlikely to suspend Israel" through its executive committee, The Athletic reports that the organization is "closely monitoring" two legal proceedings, by Ireland and Switzerland, which could force UEFA's hand and necessitate a ban against Israel.
The report also cites a meeting that took place in October, during which UEFA officials reportedly asked Game Over Israel to receive testimony from human rights experts – a step which would assist in UEFA's decision-making process in the future. The European soccer association declined to comment on The Athletic's reporting.
Last month, more than 70 prominent athletes signed a letter calling on UEFA to suspend Israel. The letter, delivered to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, was initiated by the group "Athletes for Peace" and states that the signatories are deeply concerned by UEFA's inaction regarding Israel's suspension from European football.
Signatories include Monaco midfielder and former France and Manchester United star Paul Pogba, Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucouré, former players Anwar El Ghazi, Hamza Choudhury and Hakim Ziyech, as well as coach Nigel Pearson. International cricket star Moeen Ali also joined the list, which is expected to grow in the coming days.
UEFA President Ceferin with two Gazan refugees, 12-year-old Tala and 9-year-old Muhammad, after the European Super Cup in August.
"No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid and other crimes against humanity," the letter said.
In September, A UN-appointed team of experts called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from football in response to an independent UN commission of inquiry that concluded genocide is taking place in Gaza and that Israel is responsible.
More than 70 athletes call on UEFA to ban Israel over rights abuses Paul Pogba and Hakim Ziyech join letter saying that venues should not welcome ‘a regime that commits genocide’.
“It is well-known that football governance bodies, such as UEFA, have historically suspended states from football for egregious violations of international law – apartheid South Africa, post-war Germany, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and more recently, Russia,” it said.
“We urge you to follow international law and moral precedent and suspend Israel immediately.”
Dozens of athletes have joined rights groups in calling for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel due to rights abuses against Palestinians.
In a letter delivered to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Tuesday, Athletes for Peace, a group that includes more than 70 sports professionals, backed a call for the governing body to sever ties with the Israel Football Association (IFA).
“No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid, and other crimes against humanity,” the letter, penned by Game Over Israel, read.
“Israel’s continued impunity for such crimes will only be ended by the weight of collective conscientious action, including measures to block their entry to sporting or cultural events and activities.”
The athletes who endorsed the call include French World Cup winner Paul Pogba, Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi, Moroccan player Hakim Ziyech and Spanish winger Adama Traore.
Human rights advocacy groups, including the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Gaza Tribunal, also signed the letter.
The petition marks a continuation of a campaign demanding that UEFA ban Israel from its events, citing atrocities committed during its war on Gaza.
In September, Turkish Football Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu also backed the call for suspending Israel from European football. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) passed a similar resolution earlier this month.
Although a United States-brokered ceasefire nominally ended the Israeli assault on Gaza last month, Israel has continued to restrict aid and kill Palestinians in the territory.
Leading rights groups and United Nations investigators have described Israel’s war on Gaza as a genocide. As many as 69,182 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli assault, including 421 footballers.
The war destroyed the sport’s infrastructure in Gaza, including stadiums and training facilities.
Moreover, Israel continues to entrench its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, imposing a regime that the International Court of Justice says is “tantamount to the crime of apartheid”.
The rights groups’ letter argued that Israel has used football to legitimise its occupation in those areas.
The country, for example, allows clubs from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank to participate in its professional leagues, in an apparent violation of FIFA rules.
“The participation of teams from illegal settlements in Israeli football leagues is a breach of fundamental principles of international law,” Tuesday’s letter read.
“UEFA’s relationship with the IFA – providing funding and allowing Israeli teams to play in international tournaments – means that UEFA may also be facilitating these violations and may themselves be accountable.”
Israeli clubs’ participation in European football competitions has been a source of debate and controversy over the past two years.
Last year, clashes between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC fans broke out in Amsterdam after Israeli hooligans were heard chanting “death to the Arabs”, attacking taxi drivers and removing Palestinian flags from the walls of private homes.
In October, a ban on visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in a Europa League game against Aston Villa sparked a political crisis in the United Kingdom, as well as accusations of anti-Semitism.
“This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Amsterdam,” the West Midlands Police said in a statement earlier this month.
But the government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quick to oppose the police’s decision and dismiss the security considerations behind it, sparking criticism from Palestinian rights advocates.
“We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets,” Starmer said in a social media post in response to the ban.
“The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which sits in 34th place in the Europa League standings with one point from four games, ended up losing the match 2-0 to Aston Villa last week.
Tuesday’s letter to UEFA stressed that banning a country that violates international law would not be unprecedented; it is, in fact, the norm.
“It is well-known that football governance bodies, such as UEFA, have historically suspended states from football for egregious violations of international law – apartheid South Africa, post-war Germany, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and more recently, Russia,” it said.
“We urge you to follow international law and moral precedent and suspend Israel immediately.”
