Footballers and human rights leaders call on UEFA president to suspend Israel from European football

LONDON: Athletes 4 Peace, a group of 70 plus athletes, have co-signed a letter to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin with #GameOverIsrael, the Gaza Tribunal and the Hind Rajab Foundation demanding that he follow through on the legal and moral responsibilities inherent in his role and immediately suspend Israel from European football.

The signatories argue, “No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid, and other crimes against humanity. 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.”

They address Aleksander Ceferin directly with his own words on football, “Football belongs to everyone” and warn that he risks severing football from its heart and soul – humanity – by allowing those who would destroy their own humanity and that of others entry into the sport.

International Human Rights Lawyers and former UN Human Rights Director Craig Mokhiber said: “UEFA action is stalled behind the smokescreen of a fake ‘ceasefire’ and sham ‘peace process.’ But neither the genocide nor apartheid have ended. UEFA must correct their course immediately and suspend Israel from European football. With each passing day, UEFA’s complicity grows.”

Former Adviser to the Middle East Peace Envoy and Campaign Director for Game Over Israel Ashish Prashar added: “For President Ceferin to pause his vote to suspend Israel from European football over a peace plan in name only, is either grossly naive, or purposefully blind.”  

#GameOverIsrael was launched on September 16 with a billboard in Times Square, calling on football