Israel might be suspended from World Cup

A coalition of 48 high-profile professional athletes called on UEFA to suspend Israel from all football competitions over its assault on Palestinians in Gaza, Aljazeera reported.

France midfielder Paul Pogba and English cricketer Moeen Ali were among 48 signatories to a statement calling for Israel’s suspension, published under the banner of Athletes 4 Peace.

“As professional athletes of diverse backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs, we believe sport must uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and humanity,” read the statement.

“We, the signatories of Athletes 4 Peace, call upon UEFA to immediately suspend Israel from all competitions until it complies with international law and ends its killing of civilians and the widespread starvation,” the athletes added.

The statement also cited the death last month of Suleiman al-Obeid – known as the Palestinian Pele – who, according to the Palestine Football Association, was killed when Israeli forces attacked civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza.

Hafid Daraji, a prominent Al Jazeera reporter, described the move as the first organized and collective step to exclude Israel from European and then global competitions.

According to him, the initiative’s goal is to prevent Israeli clubs and the regime’s so-called national team from participating in European and World Cup qualifying matches. He added that this action would form part of a chain of political, economic, and cultural pressures on Israel.

Israel has been a full member of UEFA since 1994 after being expelled from the Asian Football Confederation two decades earlier in a vote initiated by Kuwait and backed by other Arab countries.

UEFA is moving towards a vote on whether to suspend Israel, whose men’s football team is in the middle of attempting to qualify for next year’s World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The 20-member UEFA ruling committee is expected to secure a majority to exclude Israel from games if a vote is called.

HM/