Swedish legend rejects FIFA invite, demands justice for Palestinian footballers

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Palestine

cLegends ahead of Women’s World Cup.
She says she will not allow her image to legitimize FIFA Peace Award amid calls for justice for Palestinian football players killed by 'Israel'.

Former Swedish national team goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl publicly rejected an invitation from FIFA to join the “FIFA Legends” team ahead of the upcoming Women’s World Cup. Lindahl said she would not allow her image to be used to promote what FIFA calls a “Peace Award” because the event risks whitewashing the ongoing suffering of Palestinian athletes killed by 'Israel'.

Lindahl’s decision adds a high‑profile voice to growing criticism within international sport over FIFA’s handling of the 'Israeli' war on Gaza and its impact on football players there.

No Image Used for Whitewash

In a statement shared on social media, Lindahl said she was “unable to accept” the invitation after learning her likeness would be used in promotional material for FIFA’s Peace Award initiative. She said the award could serve to gloss over serious human rights concerns and ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, where hundreds of athletes, including many footballers, have been killed amid 'Israeli' military operations.

The former goalkeeper said that football should not be used to distract from or legitimize violence that has taken the lives of civilians and sportspeople, urging global sporting bodies to take a clearer stand for justice rather than staging symbolic gestures.

Broader Sport Backlash

Lindahl’s refusal follows mounting pressure on FIFA and other football governing bodies to address the war. Critics argue that FIFA has failed to condemn the killings of Palestinian players and officials, even as calls intensify to exclude 'Israel' from international competitions pending accountability for actions in Gaza.

International figures in football have also highlighted the deaths of Palestinian athletes while waiting for humanitarian aid and in strikes attributed to 'Israeli' forces, fueling arguments that sport must not be neutral in the face of widespread suffering.

FIFA Response Still Pending

FIFA has not publicly responded to Lindahl’s statement or indicated any change in its Peace Award promotion. The governing body has previously asserted that football is not positioned to resolve geopolitical disputes, emphasizing its role as a unifying sport.

Lindahl’s decision may inspire other former and current players to reconsider their participation in FIFA events tied to the award, deepening what has become a heated debate over sport, ethics and accountability leading into the Women’s World Cup.

What’s Next

Critics are calling for FIFA to take concrete steps, including openly condemning violence against footballers and considering disciplinary measures for associations tied to severe human rights violations. Whether the organization will adjust its approach before the World Cup remains uncertain.