The case for sports sanctions against Israel
Humanitarian crises in Gaza have prompted the Jordan Football Association and the Palestinian Football Association to demand sports sanctions against Israel. The article examines the calls, compares the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and highlights the implications for FIFA, the IOC and…
The ongoing war in Gaza has ignited a fresh wave of appeals for sports sanctions against Israel. On New Year’s Eve, the Jordan Football Association (JFA) issued a stark warning to the international sports community, urging decisive measures to halt what it described as aggression against Palestinians. The JFA’s statement called for the exclusion of Israeli teams, clubs, players and officials from all international competitions until a cease‑fire is secured and humanitarian law is respected.
Why sport is being targeted
Proponents argue that sport offers a universal platform that can pressure governments in ways diplomatic channels cannot. The JFA highlighted the transformation of Gaza’s football fields into sites of violence, citing footage of Israeli troops converting the historic Yarmouk Stadium into a makeshift detention centre. Men, women and children were reportedly rounded up, stripped and blindfolded while armed soldiers and tanks surrounded the pitch. Such incidents, the JFA says, turn venues meant for joy and hope into symbols of oppression.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) echoed these concerns, sending letters to both FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) demanding an urgent probe into alleged crimes against athletes and sports infrastructure. In its communication, the PFA listed at least 85 Palestinian athletes—55 footballers, 18 children and 37 teenagers—who have been killed since the conflict began, underscoring the human cost of the war on the sporting community.
Historical context: previous calls for bans
Calls for Israel’s exclusion from international sport are not new. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has long advocated for the suspension of the Israel Football Association over matches held in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law. BDS critics argue that FIFA has repeatedly shielded Israel from accountability, allowing teams from contested territories to compete while sanctioning fan clubs that support Palestinian rights.
What makes the current wave distinct is the scale of documented violence against sports facilities and athletes. The PFA’s recent report catalogues the deaths of 85 athletes, the arrest of numerous players, and the conversion of stadiums into detention sites. These allegations have intensified pressure on governing bodies to act, especially as the conflict’s death toll climbs past 23,500 Palestinians in Gaza and more than 300 in the West Bank, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
FIFA and the IOC: a double standard?
Both FIFA and the IOC have remained conspicuously silent on Israel’s actions in Gaza, a stance that starkly contrasts with their response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After Russia’s February 2022 aggression, FIFA barred Russian national and club teams from international competition, and the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee for annexing Ukrainian sports bodies. The International Paralympic Committee also prohibited Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Beijing Paralympics.
In the case of Israel, however, the IOC has signaled support for Israeli athletes’ participation in the upcoming Paris Olympics, even as some of those athletes serve in the Israel Defence Forces. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov publicly condemned what he called a “bias” in the IOC’s handling of the two conflicts. An IOC spokesperson responded that the Gaza war is a “unique situation” and cannot be compared to the Ukrainian invasion, a justification that many human‑rights observers find unconvincing.
The disparity raises questions about the enforcement of the Olympic Charter, which declares sport a human right and demands non‑discrimination. Critics argue that allowing Israeli athletes to compete while Palestinian athletes face movement restrictions, stadium seizures and even death violates the charter’s core principles.
Potential pathways and obstacles
Sanctioning Israel in the sports arena would require a coordinated effort by FIFA, the IOC and regional confederations. Options include suspending the Israel Football Association, barring Israeli clubs from continental tournaments, or refusing to recognize matches held in occupied territories. Yet such actions risk political backlash, legal challenges and accusations of selective enforcement.
Supporters point to precedents: the suspension of Russia and Belarus, the exclusion of South Africa during apartheid, and the temporary bans on athletes from nations that breach international norms. Opponents warn that sports sanctions could politicize competitions, alienate fans and undermine the principle of keeping sport separate from state conflicts.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with reports of “pockets of famine” and widespread infrastructure damage. As the death toll rises and athletes become collateral victims, the pressure on global sports bodies to act is likely to intensify.
What comes next?
At present, no formal sanctions have been imposed. The JFA and PFA’s appeals have been forwarded to FIFA and the IOC, but both organizations have yet to issue a definitive stance. The coming weeks will test whether the international sports community can reconcile its stated commitment to human rights with the political realities of the Israel‑Palestine conflict. If sanctions are enacted, they could set a powerful precedent for using sport as a lever against war crimes. If not, the perceived double standard may erode confidence in the impartiality of global sporting institutions.
Why it matters
Sports sanctions could pressure Israel to heed humanitarian demands and signal that global sport will not ignore war crimes, while the current silence risks undermining the credibility of FIFA and the IOC.
Key points
- Jordan and Palestinian football associations are demanding international sports bans on Israel
- FIFA and the IOC have stayed silent, unlike their swift actions against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- At least 85 Palestinian athletes have been killed and stadiums have been used as detention centers
- Sanctioning Israel would set a precedent but faces political and legal hurdles
- The disparity in responses raises questions about the enforcement of the Olympic Charter
Frequently asked questions
What specific actions are the Jordan Football Association calling for?
The JFA wants Israeli teams, clubs, players and officials barred from all international competitions until a cease‑fire is achieved and humanitarian law is respected.
How does the current response differ from the reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
FIFA and the IOC suspended Russian teams and athletes after the Ukraine invasion, whereas they have remained silent on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
What evidence exists of attacks on sports facilities in Gaza?
Video footage shows Israeli troops converting Yarmouk Stadium into a makeshift internment camp, and the PFA reports the deaths of 85 Palestinian athletes since the conflict began.
Could sports sanctions set a legal precedent?
Yes; previous bans on South Africa, Russia and Belarus show that international bodies can suspend nations for violating human‑rights norms, but each case involves complex legal and political considerations.
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