Sports boycotts have the power to further isolate Israel as a pariah on the world stage. Imagine the added pressure of having the Israeli soccer team boycotted by international sports bodies like the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
That’s exactly what Game Over Israel! is attempting to do and why CODEPINK has endorsed the campaign! Sign this pledge to support a boycott of the Israeli soccer team from international sports and federations.
We, the undersigned individuals against occupation, demand that soccer federations, whether they be local, or international like FIFA and UEFA, boycott the Israeli soccer team in an effort to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes in Palestine. The state of Israel is committing a UN-recognized genocide in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have been killed. Our international body, whether that be politically or culturally, must demand consequences for Israel’s participation in the destruction of so many people’s livelihoods.
Cultural boycotts are effective and meaningful. During apartheid South Africa, sports teams were boycotted fervently in order to end British colonial rule. The efficacy of these boycotts, at such a large global scale, paved the way for apartheid to fall and for South Africa to become sovereign.
Now, we have Israel, another colonial power, committing a world-recognized genocide in Gaza. The humanitarian, political, and ecological effects of Israel’s crimes are past the point of not taking action. Gaza has been reduced to rubble and is under strict blockade, and the West Bank is being illegally annexed at a much faster rate than ever before. These are all cold-hard truths.
Israel must feel the outcomes of its bloody actions in every sector of society, including sports. Soccer is the most watched sport in the world and a boycott of the Israeli soccer team would be very powerful. That is why FIFA, UEFA, and local soccer federations must:
- Boycott Israel's National Team
- Boycott Israeli Clubs
- Ban Israeli players
By enacting meaningful action that isolates the pariah that is Israel, the path to ending bloodshed and crimes against humanity accelerates. Do the right thing and boycott the Israeli soccer team.
Sincerely,