Inizjattiva mmexxija mill Ewroparlamentari Malti Daniel Attard, u appoġġata minn 42 MEP, sejħet lill FIFA u lill UEFA biex jieħdu azzjoni urġenti kontra l Assoċjazzjoni tal Futbol Iżraeljana li qed tikser b’mod kontinwu r regolamenti tagħhom stess.
F’żewġ ittri indirizzati lill President tal FIFA Gianni Infantino u lill President tal UEFA Aleksander Čeferin, l MEPs jindikaw kif diversi klabbs Iżraeljani li jinsabu fiż żoni okkupati illegalment fil Palestina qed jipparteċipaw fil kompetizzjonijiet domestiċi mingħajr il kunsens tal Assoċjazzjoni tal Futbol Palestinjana (PFA). Dan jirrappreżenta ksur ċar u kontinwu tar regolamenti tal FIFA u tal UEFA.
L ittri jenfasizzaw ukoll ir restrizzjonijiet sistematiċi fuq il futbol Palestinjan inkluż restrizzjonijiet fuq il moviment tal plejers, attakki fuq istituzzjonijiet sportivi u ħsarat fuq faċilitajiet li kollha jxekklu d dritt tal plejers u l partitarji Palestinjani li jipparteċipaw b’mod ugwali fil futbol.
L MEPs qegħdin jitolbu lill FIFA u lill UEFA biex:
• Jissospendu lit timijiet Iżraeljani minn kull kompetizzjoni internazzjonali sakemm terġa tinkiseb il konformità mar regolamenti u mal liġi internazzjonali;
• Jinfurzaw ir regolamenti tagħhom u jwaqqfu minnufih il parteċipazzjoni tal klabbs Iżraeljani li jinsabu fiż żoni okkupati illegalment;
• Jżommu lill Assoċjazzjoni tal Futbol Iżraeljana responsabbli għall ksur tar regolamenti;
• Jiggarantixxu d drittijiet sħaħ u ugwali tal Assoċjazzjoni tal Futbol Palestinjana.
“Meta r Russja invadiet lill Ukrajna, il FIFA u l UEFA ħadu deċiżjoni fi ftit jiem. Il kredibbiltà tiddependi fuq il konsistenza, l-istess prinċipji jridu japplikaw illum,” saħaq Attard.
Daniel Attard leads 42 MEPs in call on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israeli teams
A cross party initiative led by Maltese MEP Daniel Attard, and backed by 42 Members of the European Parliament, has called on FIFA and UEFA to take urgent action against the Israel Football Association for ongoing violations of their own statutes.
In two letters addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, the MEPs highlight that Israeli clubs based in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank continue to participate in domestic competitions without the consent of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). This, they argue, constitutes a clear and ongoing breach of FIFA and UEFA rules.
The letters also draw attention to systemic restrictions on Palestinian football, including limits on player movement, raids on sporting institutions and the destruction of facilities, all of which undermine the right of Palestinian players and fans to fair participation in the game.
The MEPs urge FIFA and UEFA to:
• Suspend Israeli clubs and national teams from international competitions until compliance with statutes and international law is restored;
• Enforce their own statutes and end the participation of Israeli settlement clubs in domestic competitions;
• Hold the Israel Football Association accountable for these violations;
• Safeguard the full and equal rights of the Palestinian Football Association.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA acted decisively within days. Consistency is the key to credibility, and the same principles must apply today,” Attard underlined.
MEPs’ Letter to FIFA | MEPs’ Letter to UEFA