Fifty athletes including several current and former stars have signed an open letter to UEFA, calling for Israel to be banned from all UEFA competitions over its alleged involvement in what they describe as the genocide of Palestinians.
UEFA Ban to Israel Team
Among the signatories are high-profile names such as former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, French midfielder Paul Pogba, and British boxer Jacques Chelley. The letter was also endorsed by Khadija Mellah, the first hijab-wearing jockey in British horse racing, Cheick Doucouré of Crystal Palace, Hakim Ziyech, the former Chelsea and current Galatasaray winger from Morocco, Anwar El Ghazi of Aston Villa, and former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson.
The letter pays tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid, a Palestinian footballer killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza in August. It reads:
“He lived and breathed life through sport, bringing hope. Through his death, he reminded us why it is vital for sports organizations to act now.”
Delivered by the UK-based organization Nuzum Sports, the letter urges UEFA to take immediate action:
“We call on UEFA to ban Israel from all competitions until it abides by international law, ends the killing of civilians, and stops causing starvation. Sport cannot remain neutral in the face of injustice. Silence only reinforces the idea that some lives are worth less than others. There must be one universal standard — justice without bias.”