Paul Pogba is among more than 70 stars of sport to sign a letter demanding UEFA suspend Israel from international competition.
The former Man United midfielder, who now plays for Monaco after serving an 18-month doping ban, is the biggest name putting pressure on the European football’s governing body to set aside the recent ceasefire and ban Israel.
Pogba, 32, has long shown support for Palestine and waved the nation’s flag on the pitch along with Amad Diallo in protest at bombardments on Gaza in 2021.
In September, a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that the country has committed genocide against Palestine in Gaza.
Athletes 4 Peace provided the letter to president Aleksander Ceferin saying the group is ‘deeply disturbed by the lack of moral action taken by UEFA regarding the suspension of Israel from European football’.
Fulham’s Adama Traore and Crystal Palace’s Chadi Riad are among other higher profile names on the list, with ex-Leicester boss Nigel Pearson also signing.
‘No shared venue, stage, or arena in international civil society should welcome a regime that commits genocide, apartheid and other crimes against humanity,’ the letter says.
Paul Pogba (left) and Amad Diallo (right) showed support for Palestine after a game in 2021
‘Israel’s continued impunity for such crimes will only be ended by the weight of collective conscientious action, including measures to block their entry to sporting or cultural events and activities,’ it went on.
Ceferin put a potential ban for Israel on hold at the end of September when Donald Trump first proposed his peace plan for the region.
The Athletes 4 Peace letter was also co-signed by other pro-Palestine groups including Game Over Israel, who were recently lobbying against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the hugely controversial Europa League game against Aston Villa last week.
Ashish Prashar, campaign director for Game Over Israel, said: ‘For president Ceferin to pause his vote to suspend Israel from European football over a peace plan in name only, is either grossly naive, or purposefully blind.’
But UEFA could call a vote on Israel’s participation in international football within the next few weeks.
In September, the Turkish Football Federation demanded a ban and on Saturday, Ireland’s FA voted to submit a motion to UEFA to do the same.
The motion – proposed by Irish club Bohemians – required support from 50 percent of the federation’s delegates and it passed with a clear majority.
It cited two alleged violations of UEFA statutes by the Israel Football Association. The first is ‘organizing clubs in occupied Palestinian territories without the consent of the Palestinian FA’ and the second is ‘the alleged failure of the IFA to enforce an effective anti-racism policy.’
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has been sent a letter co-signed by more than 70 sportspeople calling for Israel to be banned from international competition
UEFA’s executive committee next meets on December 3 in Nyon, Switzerland.
Israel will complete their World Cup qualifying campaign with a match against Moldova on November 16.
The team is third in their group and cannot finish first to qualify automatically to next year´s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, or finish second to get into the playoffs.
In October, FIFA president Gianni Infantino hinted that football’s global governing body will not sanction Israel despite pressure to do so.
‘Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today,’ Infantino said after a FIFA council meeting. ‘The most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity
‘FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems, but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.’
