www.Athletes4Peace.org

Call to Suspend Israel from UEFA

As professional athletes of diverse backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs, we believe sport must uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and humanity. 

Sport cannot stand silent while athletes and civilians including children are indiscriminately killed en masse in Gaza. It is an obligation for sporting bodies to take action against sports teams representing a country which a United Nations commission has concluded is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The UN commission’s report concludes that Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have committed and are continuing to commit four of the five acts of genocide defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention against a national, ethnic, racial or religious group - in this case, Palestinians in Gaza.

This is not about politics or taking sides. It’s about justice, humanity and the values sport claims to stand for and not allowing nations to whitewash their illegal and inhumane actions through sport. We agree wholeheartedly with Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who recently commented that “Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image".

International sport has acted before in order to protect the integrity of sport and to uphold the values it stands for when a nation's actions fundamentally breached those principles by violating human rights and international law.

Today, we face another test of our collective conscience and remaining silent and taking no action are not conscionable options.

In August this year, the world lost Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pelé”, a footballing talent who inspired countless children. According to the Palestine Football Association, he was killed when Israeli forces attacked civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in southern Gaza. In life, he brought hope through sport; in death, he has become a stark reminder of why the world, and in particular sporting bodies, must act.

As the official representative body for Muslim athletes in the UK, Nujum Sports has been approached by players from across sports, Muslim, non-Muslim, and of no faith, who want to stand together in calling for justice.

These athletes have entrusted Nujum Sports to amplify their message and ensure it reaches governing bodies, the media, and the global sporting community. Our role is to coordinate their voices, protect their right to speak out on human rights issues, and uphold the principle that sport must never be silent in the face of injustice.

We, the signatories of Athletes 4 Peace (athletes4peace.org), call upon UEFA to immediately suspend Israel from all competitions until it complies with international law and ends its killing of civilians and the widespread starvation.

Sport is not neutral in the face of injustice. To remain silent is to accept that the lives of some are worth less than others. We believe in one standard for all nations and all people, justice without double standards.

Signed,

Athletes4Peace