Rights experts demand UEFA member associations boycott Israeli football

A group of internationally recognized human rights experts and activists has formally urged UEFA executive member associations to immediately boycott Israel, citing evidence of the regime’s genocide in Gaza and its apartheid policies.

The activists, including former UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk, former Director of the UN Human Rights Office in New York Craig Mokhiber and 'Game Over Israel' campaign director Ashish Prashar, sent a letter on Tuesday condemning UEFA's "deeply troubling" inaction following the prolonged delay of a planned suspension vote originally scheduled for September 30, 2025.

They warned that UEFA's continued relationship with the Israeli Football Association potentially implicates its members in breaches of international law.

The letter noted that the deadline imposed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for states and corporate entities to sever relationships related to illegal West Bank settlements passed on September 18, 2025.

They highlight that the ICJ’s July 2024 advisory opinion declared Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) unlawful and required its rapid termination.

The activists said the IFA contributes directly to international law violations by including at least six teams based in illegal settlements in its leagues.

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By providing funding and allowing Israeli teams to play in international tournaments, UEFA stands accused of facilitating these violations and risks being in breach of international law itself, the letter warned.

They reminded the football bodies of severe legal findings, including the ICJ’s determination of "plausible genocide" and the UN Commission of Inquiry's finding that Israel has committed genocide.

Due to UEFA’s failure to suspend Israel, the activists concluded it is "urgent" that all UEFA members issue a boycott of the Israeli Football Association, its leagues, teams, and players.

"No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a state that has committed genocide and other crimes against humanity," the letter asserts.

The final recommendation urged UEFA members to "shut the door to Israel until the genocide is stopped, and accountability, self-determination, and justice are achieved for the Palestinian people."

FIFA and UEFA have faced mounting pressure to suspend Israel from competitions due to its genocide in Gaza.

Despite widespread protests and comparisons to Russia’s suspension following the invasion of Ukraine, both governing bodies have defied calls for a ban.

Analysts point to political and commercial interests as the reason for this double standard.

This failure has fueled accusations of hypocrisy, with critics saying that football’s governing bodies apply rules inconsistently depending on the political weight of the country involved.

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