UN urges FIFA to ban Israel; USA promises to fight against ban!
A United Nations commission of inquiry said earlier this month that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. That has led a panel of UN experts and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call for sporting sanctions against the country. Next year’s World Cup is being co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada. But a US State Department spokesperson told BBC Sport: “We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup.” Meanwhile, there have been reports that European football’s governing body UEFA, which organizes World Cup qualifying matches, could meet to decide whether to suspend Israel as early as next week. One senior source at a European member association told BBC Sport: “Our understanding is that UEFA leadership wants to see some action on this. “Nothing is confirmed or scheduled. But there is a new, high-level pressure from many nations compared to just a month ago.” Israel are set to play Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on 11 October. Earlier this month, Norwegian football federation president Lise Klaveness said her organization “has to deal with Israel participating in their competitions, but cannot and will not be indifferent to the humanitarian suffering that is taking place in the region, especially the disproportionate attacks against civilians in Gaza”. The Italian FA has also spoken about the challenges of playing Israel, who Italy host on 14 October in Udine. The UN report said there were reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law had been carried out since the start of the war in 2023. A panel of human rights experts at the UN subsequently called on the world football governing body Fifa and its European body UEFA to ban Israeli national football team from participating in international competitions, even including the FIFA 2026 World Cup next year. They have stated, , “Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual.” Israel has regularly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and says they are justified as a means of self-defence. Its foreign ministry called the UN report “distorted and false”. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 65,419 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry’s figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties. There has been an increase in calls to ban Israel from sporting competitions since the UN’s report. And it comes amid reports that UEFA could vote on whether to suspend Israel next week. Uefa has said that no meeting is currently planned. Israel are third in their World Cup qualifying group – organised by UEFA – on nine points, six behind leaders Norway. The top team from each group qualifies automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up going into the play-offs. Spanish PM Sanchez said Israel should be treated in the same fashion as Russia, being banned from international sports competitions. “Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image,” Sanchez said. The Russian national team have been banned from competing in international football tournaments since the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Israeli FA declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport, and FIFA has been approached for comment. Sanchez’s comments came as the final stage of the Vuelta a España was abandoned earlier this month after pro-Palestinian protesters entered part of the course in the centre of Madrid. Protesters knocked down barriers and occupied the road at several points on the course, including the Gran Via, where cyclists were due to pass multiple times. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flags at the 2024 Olympics.
Suryakumar Yadav faces ‘caution’ only by the ICC referee
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has only been cautioned by the ICC against Pakistan’s complaint after Yadav dedicated India’s Super-Four victory to India’s armed forces and the victims of Pahalgam terror attack. On Thursday, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav was summoned by the ICC after a formal complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to those present, Suryakumar, accompanied by BCCI COO Hemang Amin and Cricket Operations Manager Summer Mallapurkar, appeared before match referee Richie Richardson. The Indian captain “pleaded not guilty,” arguing that his words were in solidarity with his countrymen rather than political messaging. According to PTI, Richardson, however, reminded the 34-year-old to steer clear of comments that could be construed as political. A Level 1 offence under the ICC code of conduct usually carries a warning or a fine of 15% of match fees. For now, Surya has escaped with just a caution. If India’s skipper had to defend his words, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Shahibzada Farhin must defend their actions. The BCCI has lodged a separate complaint, citing their provocative gestures during Super-Four clash on 21st September 21. Rauf allegedly mimicked the shooting down of an aircraft, a gesture that instantly reminded Indian supporters of past military confrontations. Farhan, after his fifty, went a step further as he wielded his bat like a machine gun in celebration. All this was quite bewildering considering the two nations went into a war a few months ago. It was apparent, for Indians, as a mockery. Farhan later shrugged it off as “something that came to mind,” but the ICC is unlikely to be so forgiving. Their hearing, slated for Friday, could set an important precedent on how far on-field theatrics can go before they cross the line.
