Italy football coaches demand suspension of ‘Israeli’ teams citing “moral imperative”

The Association of Italian Football Coaches (AIAC) has called on FIFA and UEFA to temporarily suspend ‘Israel’ from international competitions, citing a "moral imperative" and a humanitarian crisis.

The request, which was unanimously approved by the association's national board and sent to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), highlights the "too many innocent deaths," including "many athletes," in the ongoing conflict.

AIAC President Renzo Ulivieri stated that "the values of humanity, which underpin those of sport, compel us to oppose acts of oppression with terrible consequences".

The association's letter also explicitly draws a comparison to the precedent of Russia's swift suspension from international football over Ukraine.

The Italian national team is scheduled to face ‘Israel’ in FIFA World Cup qualifiers this September and October.

This appeal from the Italian coaches is the latest development in a long-standing campaign by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA).

For over a decade, the PFA has been requesting action against the ‘Israel’ Football Association (IFA) for including six clubs located in illegal ‘Israeli’ settlements in its domestic league, which it argues is a violation of FIFA statutes .

The PFA has also reported a devastating toll on Palestinian sports, with more than 800 athletes and sports officials killed since October 2023.

The casualties include 421 footballers, 103 of whom were children. The association also reports that over 90% of sports infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed, including 268 sports facilities in the region.