FIFA under fire for silence on targeting of Palestinian athletes

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has criticised what it described as the silence of the international football governing body, FIFA, over the killing of Palestinian athletes and the targeting of sports facilities during the war in Gaza.

According to figures published by the campaign, more than 1,000 Palestinian athletes have been killed since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. It also said Lebanese athletes had been killed in Israeli air strikes on cities and towns in Lebanon.

PACBI said 1,007 Palestinian athletes had been killed, including 566 football players — the equivalent of 25 full teams. It also reported the destruction of 265 sports facilities.

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The campaign criticised FIFA for not taking action against Israel or issuing clear statements regarding the deaths of athletes and the destruction of sports infrastructure in Gaza and Lebanon. It said the lack of action has raised increasing questions about the standards applied in dealing with conflicts.

PACBI said the targeting of athletes in their homes or during the conflict, combined with the absence of official positions from international sports institutions, amounted to ignoring the suffering of victims and worsening the humanitarian impact of the war.

PACBI is the academic and cultural arm of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

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