ISTANBUL (AP) – Turkey on Friday called the situation in Gaza “inhuman and unacceptable” and became the first UEFA member to publicly call Israel to stop football.
Ibrahim Hasiosmanoglu, president of the Turkish Football Federation, letter to international soccer leader, has come as a European body UEFA moves towards the vote The men’s team will halt Israel, who is in the middle of qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
“It’s time for FIFA and UEFA to act,” Haciosmanoglu wrote in a letter. Anadoru quotes News Agency.
“Even though it has established itself as a civic values and advocates of peace, the world of sports and the soccer organizations have remained silent for too long,” Turkish officials said.
Haciosmanoglu is not on the 20-person UEFA Control Committee. This is expected to have a majority ruled out Israel if a vote is called. The committee includes Moshe Zuarez, Israeli football leader, who was elected in April.
FIFA Head Gianni Infantino is thought to be unlikely to support the move to halt Israel as it is closely aligned with the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US and President Donald Trump.
The US State Department said Thursday it will work to stop efforts aimed at banning Israeli teams from the World Cup.
Infantino is chairing the meeting of FIFA’s ruling council in Zurich next Thursday.
Norway will host Israel in Oslo’s World Cup qualifiers on October 11th, while Italy will play Israel in Udin in three days. Norwegian Football Federation has promised to give it Ticket sales profit Becoming a doctor without borders for his humanitarian work in Gaza.
FIFA did not immediately return a request Friday seeking comment.
Pressure on international sports for action against Israel grew this month after days of upset at the Spanish Vuelta bike race. Pedro Sanchez calls for sports ban In Israel – Air bombing on September 9th Israel targeting Hamas leaders Qatar’s capital, Doha, and the investigation appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which denies Israel. Fucking genocide in Gaza.
Haciosmanoglu said the situation in Gaza is now urgent and “football is always more than a sport.”
“It is a universal language that brings together different cultures, cultivates friendships and strengthens the bonds of solidarity between people,” he wrote. “Trusted by these values, we feel compelled to raise deep concern about the illegal (and more important, completely inhumane and unacceptable) situation committed by the states of Israel in Gaza and its surrounding regions.”
Reception Tayyip Erdogan in July Called Israel a “terrorist country.” Due to actions in Syria and unstable forces in the region.
Israel only competed in one Men’s World Cup in 1970 when they advanced by facing Australia and New Zealand in sections involving Asian teams rather than from the Middle East. Israel was expelled from Asian football a few years later and has been a full member of UEFA since 1994.
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