Australian soccer player calls for Israel’s suspension from FIFA

Retired Australian athlete Craig Foster is the latest figure in the football world to criticize Israel and call for his suspension following the seven-month attack in Gaza. This comes as the global football governing body is due to meet on May 17th.

Foster joined calls for a ban by Israel on Friday, supporting the Palestinian Football Association’s (PFA) request to FIFA made in March ahead of the organization’s annual congress in Thailand.

The PFA highlighted Israeli violations against Palestinians in Gaza, particularly targeting Palestinian footballers and football infrastructure.

Foster, a former player for the Australian national team and English Premier League team Crystal Palace as well as an anti-racism advocate, made his own plea in one post to X – advise other members of the football community to follow suit.

“I am sure many love football like you and I, and yet FIFA said nothing and did nothing,” Foster said in his video statement on the social media platform.

“The Palestinian Football Association has called for an urgent hearing next week and twelve West Asian Football Association associations have called for Israel’s immediate suspension until the end of hostilities.”

“I support these demands, as well as the release of all hostages and the accountability of all parties for war crimes,” he continued.

Foster added that he had written to Football Federation Australia to support calls for the ban and also called on the Australian football community and fans worldwide to show support.

PFA chief Jibril Rajoub has confirmed that the Palestinian Football Association has submitted a draft resolution to FIFA stating that Palestinians are at risk of genocide, which has significantly affected the Palestinian football community.

Rajoub added that since the Israeli military offensive in Gaza since October 7, 256 football players, administrators and technicians have been killed.

Dozens of Palestinians are still missing under the rubble, while Rajoub added that hundreds more had also been arrested in “difficult and harsh conditions.”

In addition, all sports facilities in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed by Israeli forces and converted into military centers where interrogations and brutal torture of imprisoned Palestinians are allegedly taking place.

Rajoub says that under FIFA law, Israel must be held responsible for several violations of international law, including crimes against various members of the Palestinian sports community.

In 2022, FIFA banned all Russian teams from participating in international football due to the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

However, in October last year, FIFA lifted the ban and allowed girls and boys teams under 17 from the country to take part in tournaments.

When FIFA asked them for comment, they responded The new Arab to a document listing the full schedule for next week’s FIFA Congress meeting.

FIFA officials also referred to the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino’s, previous address to the Israeli and Palestinian Football Associations in October 2023, in which he expressed condolences for the “terrible violence” taking place in Gaza and Israel played.