Hawzah News Agency- On Tuesday, UN experts called for the suspension of the Israeli team from international football after a panel found it to be committing genocide in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
“Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual'', the UN experts said.
UEFA previous made a seeming protest against Israel during the European Super Cup final in August between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.
“Stop Killing Children, Stop Killing Civilians," a banner displayed before the match read, an apparent condemnation of Israel's targeting of children.
Possible action by UEFA on Israel will increase pressure on FIFA to act but the world governing body faces pressure from the US, which has backed Israel during its genocide, to not implement sanctions.
Earlier, the US said it will intervene to prevent Israel from being sanctioned by FIFA ahead of the World Cup due to be held in the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
A US State Department spokesperson told Sky News that the US would "absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel's national soccer team from the World Cup."
Since its genocide in Gaza began, Israel has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of athletes, including prominent Palestinian footballers.
In August it killed former Palestinian international footballer Suleiman al-Obeid while he was trying to secure aid.
Obeid played 24 times for the national team and earned the accolade the “Palestinian Pele” for a style that resembled the Brazilian legend.
Israeli soldiers and foreign security contractors have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians at aid distribution points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial food distribution operation that replaced aid distribution networks run by humanitarian groups.
Source: MIDDLE EAST EYE
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