Glenn Micallef warns that sporting bodies have a moral duty to block aggressors from participating
Israel should be banned from tournaments by both Fifa and Uefa, a key figure in the European Union has said.
There have been growing calls for the suspension of the Middle Eastern country from sporting competitions due to alleged violations of human rights in the conflict with Palestine.
Glenn Micallef, the EU commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport, said sport had a moral duty to do so.
“These decisions are clearly for the sporting bodies to take, but I think the sporting movement has a duty not to look away, in the face of breaches and violations of human rights, and when there is human suffering and injustice taking place around us,” said Micallef.
Calls for a ban intensified after a UN commission of inquiry accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Uefa is facing increased pressure to enact the suspension, with human rights groups and key figures inside national footballing associations urging it to put a proposal to its executive committee.
Any such suspension would require a simple majority among Uefa’s 19-member board and insiders believe it is likely to pass, according to The Guardian.
However, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has a close relationship with US president Donald Trump, and the US government have made it clear they will oppose any plans to ban Israel, a key US ally, from sports.
Infantino said this week that Fifa “cannot solve geopolitical problems” but must instead “harness the unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values” of football to promote peace and unity.
This is despite Fifa banning Russia from football following its invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Suspension of Israel by both Fifa and Uefa would prevent its national team from continuing its World Cup qualifying campaign, and block its clubs, including Maccabi Tel Aviv, from European competitions. Maccabi Tel Aviv are currently playing in the Europa League.
A suspension from Uefa alone would block Maccabi Tel Aviv from the Europa League and Israel’s national team from the Nations League, but crucially, they would still be able to play in the World Cup qualifiers and participate in the World Cup next year if they qualify.
This is because the World Cup qualifiers are not under Uefa’s direct control, even though it organises them in Europe for Fifa.
Micallef warned against both bodies allowing Israel to continue to participate in sport.
“Aggressors using sport as a tool for propaganda should never be allowed,” said Micallef.
“The sporting movement has always stood up and taken firm positions on this. It happened with South Africa when there was apartheid. It happened with Russia after the unprovoked and illegal war in Ukraine.
“I think the sporting movement has a duty to continue to promote common values that we share.”
