GENEVA - UN experts* today called on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel as a country team from international football, as a necessary response to address the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory.
"The conclusion of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, that Israel is committing genocide is the latest in a growing number of international bodies affirming that genocide is being committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The ICJ's Interim Order of 26 January 2024 reminded every country of its legal obligations to act against genocide," the experts said.
The obligations to prevent, not to commit or incite, and to punish genocide are universally recognised as peremptory norms of international law that apply to all, at all times, without exception, they noted.
"Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual," they said. "Sporting bodies must not turn a blind eye to grave human rights violations, especially when their platforms are used to normalise injustices."
The experts stressed that States in which international organisations are based, States which hold competitions, and those engaging in sporting competitions with Israel, must consider their own obligations not to remain neutral in the face of genocide.
"We are clear that the boycott must be addressed to the State of Israel and not to individual players. We have always maintained that individuals cannot bear the consequences of the decisions their government makes, so there should be no discrimination or sanctions against individual players because of their origin or nationality," the experts said.
"National teams representing States that commit massive human rights violations can and should be suspended, as has happened in the past," they said.
Private international organisations, such as international sports associations like FIFA and UEFA, are bound by international human rights law in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The experts acknowledged several efforts by civil society calling for FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israeli team.
"They must fulfil their obligations not to provide aid or assistance that would help maintain the situation created by Israel's illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," they said.
"We support the calls for action that aim to encourage the implementation of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and impose consequences on the State of Israel for breaching international law," the experts said.
"Once again, we urge FIFA to stop legitimising the situation arising from Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," the expert said. "There is a legal and moral imperative to take every measure possible to end the genocide in Gaza now."
