Harun Nasrullah
A group of Italian football coaches has launched a public campaign urging FIFA to suspend Israel from the World Cup. They call the initiative a stand for “dignity and solidarity” during Israel’s war in Gaza.
The appeal was timed ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Israel on September 8. Italy won the match 5–4 in a dramatic game played in neutral Hungary.
Spearheaded by members of the Italian Coaches’ Association, the campaign includes a petition on the activism platform Avaaz. It calls on FIFA, UEFA, and national federations to “suspend Israel from participating in the World Cup until its government ends attacks on civilians in Gaza and fully complies with international law.”
Organisers state that more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the past two years. They note that among the dead are families, children, and infants—“the equivalent of entire teams of athletes erased.” Yet, they argue, FIFA continues to allow Israel to compete internationally.
The coaches argue a suspension would send a clear message: nations committing atrocities cannot compete globally. Their petition demands, “FIFA banned Russia days after it invaded Ukraine. Why the double standard over Israel’s war crimes?”
The campaign quickly gained attention on social media. Supporters insist that boycotting teams is one of the few ways to hold sports bodies accountable to ethical standards. They urged fans worldwide to sign and amplify the call, asserting that a large number of signatures would make it “impossible to ignore.”
Despite these appeals, the qualifier proceeded as planned. The politically charged atmosphere was clear inside and outside the stadium. Israeli players wore black armbands to honor victims of a recent Jerusalem attack. Sections of the crowd staged protests, including whistling during the Israeli anthem.
Israel’s head coach defended his team’s participation. He told reporters his players were “playing for them … to make them a few moments of happy,” referring to supporters enduring the conflict at home. Campaign organizers countered that allowing Israel to play normalizes disregarding Palestinian suffering.
Supporters argue a ban would diplomatically isolate Israel, show solidarity with Palestinians, and uphold the principle that sport must not normalise states accused of grave violations of international law.
Photo: The Italian Football Coaches Association, led by President Renzo Ulivieri and pictured here with former Italy international Roberto Baggio, has launched a public campaign urging FIFA to suspend Israel from the World Cup. (Credit: Facebook/CC)
