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A Palestinian team that could have existed, but does not!
Although football is highly popular among Palestinians, Israeli oppression has stripped them of their ability to engage in this sport. The Israeli regime has committed human rights violations against Palestinian footballers in 56 documented cases, some of which include:
- 26 cases of imposing travel bans on footballers, such as 13-year-old Karam Zidan in July 2016;
- 12 cases of injuring footballers through bombings, such as 28-year-old Mohammed Dahlan in August 2014, 9-year-old Ibrahim Khattab in July 2014, 27-year-old Mohammed Al-Bayd in July 2014, and 49-year-old Ahad Zaqout in July 2014;
- 11 cases of injuring footballers through shootings, such as 23-year-old Mohammed Obeid in March 2018, 18-year-old Saji Darwish in March 2014, 19-year-old Nasser Jawhar in January 2014, and 17-year-old Adam Halabiya in January 2014;
- 9 cases of detaining footballers, such as 17-year-old Mohammed Nimr in September 2007, 22-year-old Mohammed Sarsak in July 2009, and 23-year-old Omar Abu Rweis in February 2012;
- 9 cases of amputations of footballers’ limbs, such as Mohammed Dahlan, Ibrahim Khattab, and Mohammed Al-Bayd.1
FIFA’s Disregard for Israel’s Illegal Actions
Another instance of human rights violations concerning Palestinian sports is the usurpation of Palestinian lands by Zionists to build sports facilities and clubs. According to FIFA regulations, national football federations are not allowed to host matches in another country’s territory without permission. However, Israelis have established the Israel Football Association and six affiliated sports clubs in illegal settlements built on Palestinian lands, where they also hold matches.
FIFA’s negligence regarding the illegal actions of the Israeli regime stands in contrast to its enforcement of the aforementioned rule against other countries, such as denying Russia the right to host matches in Crimea without Ukraine’s consent. FIFA has repeatedly delayed decisions regarding teams from Israel’s usurped settlements, thereby ignoring justice for Palestinian football. The repeated delays by FIFA on this matter are as follows:
- May 2015: Instead of directly enforcing its rules against teams from Israel’s usurped settlements, FIFA formed a committee to investigate the issue.
- May 2016: The committee extended its one-year deadline to review the matter.
- October 2016: The FIFA Council held a meeting and postponed the decision on teams from usurped settlements to the next session.
- January 2017: FIFA once again delayed the decision on this issue during a council meeting.
- May 2017: At the FIFA Congress, the FIFA President blocked action against clubs in Israeli usurped settlements and again delayed the matter.
FIFA’s repeated delays in enforcing its own regulations are so absurd that Human Rights Watch stated:“It is unclear why [FIFA] needs another year to decide whether to follow its own rules!!!”»2
اواخر سپتامبر سال ۲۰۲۳، بنیامین نتانیاهو، نخستوزیر اسرائیل، به سخنرانی در مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل متحد پرداخت!
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