Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Local sources: 3 killed, 7 injured in attack on transport bus in Idlib countryside, Syria
The 'French faction' in Idlib announces that Syrian security forces are preparing to attack its camp amid accusations that it is collaborating with ISIS.
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria

Middle Eastern football associations call on FIFA to ban 'Israel'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 8 Feb 2024 16:54
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Led by Jordan's Football Association, Middle Eastern associations called on FIFA to ban "Israel" as it did Russia, but faced rejection from the Israeli Football Association and the head of the UEFA.

  • x
  • Israeli players pose for a team photo prior to the FIFA U-20 World Cup the third-place soccer match against South Korea at the Diego Maradona stadium in La Plata, Argentina, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP)
    Israeli players pose for a team photo prior to the FIFA U-20 World Cup the third-place soccer match against South Korea at the Diego Maradona stadium in La Plata, Argentina, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP)

A 12-nation group of football associations in the Middle East has called on FIFA and the UEFA to ban "Israel", Sky News reported, referring to the letter sent to the federation. 

The group includes the football associations of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, and is led by Jordan's Football Association, whose head is King Abdullah II's half-brother, Prince Ali. 

The letter, written by Prince Ali, called on FIFA to isolate the Israeli football association from all related activities due to the brutal genocide in Gaza, and the continuous war crimes "Israel" keeps committing in the strip, targeting Palestinian civilians, including football enthusiasts, players, and coaches. 

The Israeli FA, however, called for the rejection of the ban on the basis of detaching football and sports from politics. Niv Goldstein, "Israel's" Federal Association CEO, said, "We are concentrating only on football matters and our dream is to qualify for the European Championship in 2024 and I'm looking forward to world peace."

This raised questions concerning the UEFA's exclusion of Russia in international tournaments and participation when the war against Ukraine was launched. 

No statements from UEFA, FIFA

Related News

Israeli raids sweep West Bank as settlers attack village near Ramallah

'Israel' receives bodies of two soldiers killed in Gaza

Neither the European nor the world football's governing bodies, UEFA and FIFA, issued a statement condemning or sanctioning "Israel" as they had for Russia, nor did they suspend Israeli clubs and national teams from their competitions despite "Israel's" ongoing genocide on Gaza, while Russian clubs and national teams were banned from international competitions, and remained barred from partaking in the FIFA World Cup or UEFA EURO competitions.

Responding to both parties, UEFA general secretary, Theodore Theodoridis, revealed that the organization had no intentions to ban "Israel" from participating, but mentioned that the executive board would be making a decision. However, responding to the Russia-Israeli comparison, Theodoridis and Goldstein both said that the war in Ukraine differs from that on Gaza, in an attempt to justify the ban on Russia but not "Israel". 

"The humanitarian crisis demands an unequivocal and resolute response from the global football community," Prince Ali wrote, adding, "As members bound by the statutes of FIFA, we stand united in our pledge to uphold all internationally recognized human rights."

Read more: Indonesians protest 'Israel's' participation in U-20 FIFA World Cup

Ban is only fair

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) confirmed that Israeli occupation forces killed 85 Palestinian athletes, including 55 football players and 30 individuals engaged in various other sports disciplines, in the period spanning from October 7 to December 6.

In a comprehensive report, the PFA mentioned that during their ongoing aggression, Israeli occupation forces targeted Palestinian sports facilities and athletes, including football players, as well as club presidents, administrators, referees, and other sports figures.

The report revealed that among the football players killed at the hands of Israeli occupation forces, 18 were children and 37 were youths, including two in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, four players sustained injuries in the Gaza Strip.

According to the PFA's report, Israeli airstrikes destroyed nine sports facilities, with four located in the occupied West Bank and five in Gaza.

  • Palestine
  • football
  • UEFA
  • Russia
  • Israel
  • FIFA
  • Gaza
  • Jordan
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS