A group of Middle Eastern football associations have asked world football bosses to ban Israel over the war on Hamas in Gaza, according to a letter seen by Sky News.
But the Israeli The Football Association has urged FIFA to keep politics out of the sport and allow it to continue trying to qualify for the men's European Championship this summer.
The attempt to expel Israeli football players is led by Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the half-brother of… Jordan King Abdullah II in his capacity as President of the West Asian Football Federation.
This 12-nation grouping also includes the football federations of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The letter was sent to all 211 national football associations and six regional associations, including UEFA, of which Israel is a member and which today holds its annual conference in Paris.
The President of the Jordanian Federation, Prince Ali, wrote: “We, the West Asian Football Associations, including all its members, call on… FIFAFootball Associations and Member Associations to join us in taking a decisive stand against the atrocities committed in Palestine and war crimes in Gaza, by condemning the killing of innocent civilians including players, coaches, referees and officials, and the destruction of football infrastructure, and taking a united front in isolating the Israeli Football Association. Abstain from all football-related activities until these aggressive acts stop.
The Israel Football Association called on soccer authorities to reject the attempt to ban them, but offered an olive branch for peace, wishing Jordan good luck in its first-ever appearance in the Asian Cup final on Sunday against Qatar.
“I am confident that FIFA will not interfere in politics in football,” Niv Goldstein, CEO of the Israel Football Association, told Sky News.
“We are against the involvement of politicians in football and involvement in political matters in sports in general.
“So, we are just focusing on football matters and our dream is to qualify for the European Championship in 2024 and I am looking forward to world peace.”
Photo: Reuters
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) decided to ban Russia from participating in international matches due to unjustified reasons. Large-scale invasion of Ukraine In 2022 – which raises questions in Jordan about the contradictions in dealing with countries at war.
“That's not for me to decide,” Goldstein said. “And obviously we think there's a big difference between our situation and other situations that have happened in the world“.
The Israeli government insists it is acting in self-defense and the war on Gaza began only after Hamas launched raids on its territory on October 7, killing about 1,200 Israelis and other nationalities.
Prince Ali's message did not mention those massacres – the bloodiest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust – nor the more than 130 people held hostage in Gaza since they were kidnapped from Israel on that day.
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But the letter points out “the extent of the suffering endured by women, children and innocent civilians, including football players and athletes, as well as the indiscriminate destruction of sports facilities” in Gaza.
Israel insists it is acting proportionately and is keen to avoid the killing of innocent people. More than 27,000 people have been killed in Gaza so far, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry there.
“The humanitarian crisis requires an unequivocal and resolute response from the global football community,” Prince Ali wrote.
“As committed members of the FIFA Statutes, we stand united in our pledge to uphold all internationally recognized human rights.”
Large parts of Gaza were destroyed in the Israeli attack. Photo: Reuters
Israel began competing in the Asian Football Confederation in 1954 but faced opposition from countries that refused to play it.
They qualified via Asia for the 1970 Men's World Cup but the team was then excluded from the AFC Championships since 1974.
They continued to play in Europe and Oceania in future World Cup qualifying campaigns before joining the European governing body, UEFA, as a full member in 1994.
Israeli teams also compete in the Champions League and Europa League.
The national team has never qualified for the European Championship, but it is two matches away from the finals, which will be held in Germany next June.
In March, a semi-final playoff match will be held against Iceland, and the winner will play with Bosnia and Herzegovina or Ukraine.
Build on Eurovision Song Contest In May he also sees Pressure to ban Israel Russia has been expelled from the competition in 2022.
Russia has been banned from the Eurovision Song Contest, which Ukraine won in 2022. Image: AP
But the European Broadcasting Union said the situation was “radically different” and supported Israel remaining in the competition.
The Israel Football Association is also hoping to fend off recent attempts to expel its teams. FIFA and UEFA did not provide any immediate comment to Sky News.
But Jordanian Prince Ali wrote to football federations, including the UK's home nations: “With a sense of deep responsibility and commitment to the principles of human rights, justice and peace, we appeal for your engagement on this crucial matter.”
The Palestinian Football Association was not able to join the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) until after the Oslo Accords in 1998, and it competes under the name of Palestine.
The men's team reached the round of 16 for the first time in the Asian Cup last month.
