The Palestinian Football Association has called on FIFA/UEFA to suspend Israel from international competition and are asking other FAs to join them. The opportunity for a national team to compete on a global stage should be a privilege reserved for states that adhere to International Humanitarian Law. It took FIFA/UEFA less than one week to ban Russia from international competition following the invasion of Ukraine. Apartheid South Africa was suspended from FIFA for ten years before being expelled in 1976 and was only permitted to re-join in 1992 as the apartheid regime was dismantling. In that same year, the Yugoslavia national team was suspended by FIFA from international competition as a part of UN-led sanctions against the former state during the Balkans war. 

In March 2022 the English FA tweeted the following two days prior to the decision by FIFA & UEFA to ban Russia from all competitions: 

“Out of solidarity with Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian leadership, The FA can confirm that we won't play against Russia in any international fixtures for the foreseeable future. This includes any potential match at any level of senior, age group or para football”

So why is the FA staying silent now as a genocide unfolds before our eyes, captured on screen for everyone to see? Gaza is the size of 51 football pitches & since October 7th 2023, over 70,000 tonnes of of explosives, equivalent in power to six times that of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed over 72,500 Palestinians, with thousands more, believed dead, buried by rubble alongside tens of thousands severely injured. Amongst those murdered by Israel’s brutal aggression is International Assistant Referee, Mohammed Al Khateeb whose life, along with his entire family's, was tragically cut short on Wednesday, 22nd February, in Deir Al Balah. Accredited by the Asian and International Football Confederations, Mohammed contributed significantly to various championships in Asia and the Arab world. His promising career and passion for football were abruptly taken away by the Israeli war machine. Children haven't been spared in this genocide, 10 youth players from The Professional Football Academy have been murdered by Israel so far, adding to the devastatingly long list of over 20,000 children who have been killed by Israel.

As football fans we are horrified that a genocidal, apartheid nation has the opportunity to compete in competitions whilst actively conducting a genocide in Palestine. We call on our Football Association, the oldest in the world, to use their voice to support the PFAs calls to suspend Israel from FIFA and UEFA and show the world that Football says NO to Genocide.