Famous Footballers Launch Unprecedented Move to Expel Israel from World Competitions
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, quoting Mehr News Agency via Al Jazeera Mubasher, a group of 48 athletes, mostly professional footballers including stars such as Paul Pogba, Hakim ziyech, and Anwar El Ghazi, have initiated a campaign called “Athletes for Peace.” They demand the complete suspension of Israel’s participation in UEFA competitions.
This appeal comes in response to the ongoing war and what they describe as “genocide against civilians in the Gaza strip.”
The initiative’s official statement reads: “sport must adhere to principles of justice and humanity and cannot remain silent in the face of crimes against civilians in Gaza.”
Al Jazeera’s renowned reporter Hafiz Darraji described this move on the program Al-Masaieh (Evening) as “the first organized collective step” aimed at excluding Israel from European tournaments and subsequently global events. He compared it to actions taken against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Darraji explained that the goal is to prohibit Israeli clubs and national teams from competing in European contests and World Cup qualifiers. He added that this measure is intended as part of a broader set of political, economic, and cultural pressures on Israel.
