Hommam Al Nassim 
The West Asian Football Confederation (WAFF) has sent a letter to the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) demanding that Israeli teams and clubs be banned from participating in international football competitions due to the war on Gaza, according to Britain’s Sky News.
“We, the West Asian Football Associations, including all their members, call on FIFA, football associations and member associations to join us in taking a decisive stand against the atrocities committed in Palestine and war crimes in Gaza, by condemning the killing of innocent civilians including players, coaches, referees and officials, the destruction of football infrastructure, and taking a united front in isolating the Israel Football Association from all football-related activities until these acts of aggression cease,” the letter reads.
Efforts to ban Israeli teams and clubs from participating in international and continental competitions are led by Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, in his capacity as president of the West Asian Football Federation.
The West Asian Football Federation includes 12 Arab associations: Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, and Yemen.
In response to the letter, Israel Football Association CEO Neve Goldstein said, “I am confident that (FIFA) will not enter politics in football,” and continued: “We are against involving politicians in football and getting involved in political matters in sports in general.”
It is noteworthy that the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) and the European Football Association (UEFA) decided in 2022 to prevent Russian football teams and clubs from participating in international competitions due to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, despite many calls at the time to prevent the involvement of politics in sports.
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