Red Card Israel

Palestinians have long complained to FIFA about Israeli attacks against Palestinian players, including arrest and torture and denial of movement permits, and the bombing of football stadiums in addition to routine disruptions of the import of football equipment.

Israel’s illegal Wall, colonial settlements, as well as its policy of siege, curfew and military roadblocks have systematically obstructed the practice of sports by Palestinians and denied Palestinian athletes regular training and participation in matches and tournaments, at home and abroad.

Moreover, Israel consistently prevents Palestinian athletic teams from traveling and denies entry of international athletes into the occupied Palestinian territory.

During the 22-day assault on Gaza in 2008-2009, three members of the Palestinian national football team were killed by Israeli forces and Israel has routinely arrested Palestinian players before games. Additionally, in 2012, Israel demolished a community center in Silwan which served two football groups and 300 children.

Furthermore, Palestinian football players have been forced to end their sports careers after being shot by Israeli forces in the legs.

Israeli football teams enact racist policies toward Palestinians. The Israel Football Association has failed to address and sanction the teams for tolerating and perpetuating these behaviors. Below are few examples of these discriminatory strategies.

The coach for the Israeli team Beitar Jerusalem, Guy Levi, said he will not bring a Palestinian citizen of Israel in the team noting “Even if there were a player who fit in professionally, I would not bring him in.”  

The team’s fans have habitually attacked Palestinians and were witnessed chanting “death to Arabs” at matches against Palestinian teams. Amit Ben Shushan, football player with Beitar Jerusalem,, also sang with the audience "I hate Arabs" when they won the Israeli Cup in 2009.

The Israel Football Association (IFA) runs segregated youth leagues based on national origin, keeping Palestinian and Israeli youth from playing together.

While Israel deliberately destroys Palestinian football stadiums and detains Palestinian players, it allows seven teams based in illegal settlements to play in its national league.

Israeli settlements are illegal under international humanitarian law. The UN special adviser on sport for development and peace, 66 members of European Parliament, 30 members of Swiss Parliament, more than 40 members of Danish Parliament, 38 members of the British House of Commons, civil society organisations, football fans as well as Human Rights Watch have all urged FIFA to resolve the issue of settlement clubs.

An April 2016 report, commissioned by FIFA and written by John Ruggie, makes recommendations for FIFA to implement the UNGP throughout its activities, outlining the human rights responsibilities of businesses. This includes the exclusion of Israeli settlement teams or the suspension of the IFA from FIFA.

Human Rights Watch has documented the grave consequences of Israeli settlements noting: “they are located on land that has been unlawfully taken from Palestinians, they exploit natural resources that belong to Palestinians but are allocated in a discriminatory manner in favor of Israelis, and they are part of a discriminatory regime that privileges Israeli businesses while blocking Palestinian businesses, social, and cultural institutions and infrastructure from developing.”

Another report on Israeli settlement teams highlights the support the IFA provides for the sustainability of the settlements despite contravening international accords. As a result the IFA “is engaging in business activity that supports the settlements. Settlement football clubs provide part-time employment and recreational services to settlers, making the settlements more sustainable, thus propping up a system that exists through serious human rights violations.”