“When it comes to football, there should be no place on the pitch for those who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is calling on the Football Association of your country to uphold its human rights commitments and refuse complicity in Israel’s crimes. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 421 Palestinian footballers and destroyed Gaza’s sporting infrastructure, including stadiums and the headquarters of the Palestinian Football Association, wiping out an entire generation of athletes. The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry, in its September 16, 2025, report, found Israel responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. These findings follow the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation unlawful under international law. Despite these grave violations, the Israeli Football Association continues to operate without challenge, making its participation in international football an act of sportswashing. The Football Association of your country, which has pledged to uphold human rights in sport, now faces a critical choice: whether to remain complicit or take decisive action.
We urge the Football Association of your country to apply its principles consistently and ban Israel from playing football until Israel ends the genocide and its unlawful occupation and fully complies with its obligations under international law.