UEFA Resists US Pressure to Sanction Israeli Teams Amid Gaza Crisis
The European football governing body UEFA has decided not to suspend Israeli national teams and clubs over the conflict in Gaza, despite pressure from a UN panel that called for such action to address the ‘ongoing genocide’ in the occupied Palestinian territory. The decision is attributed to efforts by Israeli and international diplomats, football leaders, and US officials who allegedly pushed to maintain the current status quo. This follows a call from a UN panel urging UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel, framing the move as a necessary response to the humanitarian crisis.
The pressure on UEFA has intensified following the September 9 Israeli attack on a Hamas compound in Doha, which led Qatar to renewed efforts to push for sanctions. Critics argue that UEFA has demonstrated a double standard by swiftly banning Russia following the Ukraine conflict but has been slower to respond to the Gaza situation. Russian footballer Andrey Kanchelskis has called for the lifting of the Russia ban, citing perceived bias in UEFA’s actions.
Meanwhile, a UN panel has urged UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel, emphasizing that sports bodies must not ignore grave human rights violations on their platforms. The experts argued that a growing number of international bodies are affirming that genocide is being committed. This has sparked debates about the role of sports organizations in international affairs and their responsibility to address humanitarian crises.