Coalition of 50 Athletes Urges UEFA to Suspend Israel from Competitions
A coalition of 50 professional athletes has formally called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel from all its competitions, citing concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and what they describe as violations of human rights. In a joint letter submitted to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, the athletes urged the European football governing body to take decisive action against Israel. According to the letter, the athletes believe that UEFA must hold Israel accountable for what they termed as “grave breaches of international law” in the Gaza conflict. The signatories, who represent various sports including football, athletics, and basketball, argue that the ongoing military actions have made it impossible to separate sports from politics. “It is no longer tenable to allow Israel to participate in UEFA tournaments while the suffering of civilians, including children, continues unabated,” the letter stated, as reported by Agence France-Pre...