Double standards from FIFA, as Infantino says it cannot suspend Israel’s membership

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the football organisation ‘does not have the power to solve geopolitical problems,’ at a time when calls are growing to suspend Israel’s membership against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. Yet it seems FIFA thought it could previously – because it suspended Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Infantino’s response over Israel exposes FIFA’s double standards

At the start of a closed meeting of the FIFA Council, Infantino referred to the ‘current situation in Gaza,’ stressing that the power of football lies in its ability to ‘unite people in a divided world,’ sending a ‘message of peace and unity.’

He added:

FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts, but it can and must continue to promote football and its educational, cultural and humanitarian values.

The statement did not refer to Israel or its football association, despite growing calls for its national team to be excluded from competitions, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Last week, three independent UN experts called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel’s membership, warning that what is happening in Gaza amounts to ‘genocide’ and stressing that sports institutions ‘should not turn a blind eye to gross human rights violations.’

In the same context, Liz Clavines, president of the Norwegian Football Association, revealed that she is seeking to impose sanctions on Israel ahead of the upcoming match between her country’s national team and its Israeli counterpart on 11 October in the World Cup qualifiers.

She said in a podcast:

Personally, I believe that if Russia has been banned, Israel should also be banned.

It is worth noting that in February 2022, FIFA and UEFA made a quick decision to ban the Russian national team and Russian clubs from participating in international tournaments following the invasion of Ukraine. This sanction remains in place today, sparking controversy over double standards in dealing with political and humanitarian crises.

Featured image via the Canary