FIFA fines Israel for racism and discrimination but clears settlement clubs

On Thursday, FIFA sanctioned the Israel Football Association (IFA) over breaches of racism and discrimination, but cleared the Palestine Football Association’s (PFA) complaints of Israeli clubs playing in settlements.

In its decision, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee concluded that ‘the Israel Football Association (IFA) has committed multiple breaches of its obligations as a FIFA member Association.’ The world football governing body’s disciplinary decision follows the PFA’s proposal at the 74th FIFA Congress in May 2024 to investigate discrimination by the IFA. 

FIFA imposed sanctions on the IFA for breaches of articles 13 (offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play) and 15 (discrimination and racist abuse). The IFA was fined CHF 150,000 and was ordered to invest one third of the fine ‘towards the implementation of a comprehensive plan to ensure action against discrimination and to prevent repeated incidents.’

The IFA was also ordered to display a ‘significant and highly visible banner’ stating ‘Football Unites the World – No to Discrimination’ in Israel’s next three FIFA home matches. 

The decision by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee further stated that ‘it cannot remain indifferent to the broader human context in which football operates’ and that ‘the sport must remain a platform for peace, dialogue, and mutual respect.’

In a separate investigation, FIFA announced that no action would be taken in response to the PFA’s complaints at the 74th FIFA Congress about the presence of Israeli clubs in settlements in the occupied West Bank. 

On its website, the governing body declared that ‘FIFA should take no action given that… the final legal status of the West Bank remains an unresolved and highly complex matter under public international law.’

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that ‘Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful’ and that it should ‘bring to an end its unlawful presence… as rapidly as possible.’

The ICJ ruling also concluded that ‘Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.’

Many critics have underlined the double standards in footballing authorities’ response to Israel, as Russian national teams and clubs were swiftly suspended from all competitions following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

FIFA has not taken any action against Israeli teams and clubs, despite the country being accused of committing genocide by international human rights organisations, genocide scholars, and a United Nations Commission. 

In February, a group of organisations referred the heads of FIFA and UEFA to the International Criminal Court by accusing them of ‘aiding and abetting war crimes (specifically, the transfer of civilian population into occupied territories) and crimes against humanity (specifically, apartheid).’

According to estimates, over 400 Palestinian footballers in Gaza have been killed by Israel since October 2023.