Earlier this month, Palestinian footballers, clubs and rights groups submitted a 120-page file to the International Criminal Court accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin of “aiding and abetting war crimes … and crimes against humanity.” The complaint cites both organisation’s inclusion of Israeli clubs based in settlements and the legitimisation of settlement expansion which is also linked to the forced transfer of Palestinians. The document states that Infantino and Čeferin are acting with full knowledge of how Israel’s practices amount to war crimes and also of having cooperated with Israel and the US in granting continued participation of Israel’s settlement clubs. 

FIFA’s next step was to announce its collaboration with the Board of Peace “to actively source investment from international leaders and institutions harnessing the power of football to support recovery, stability and long-term development in conflict-affected regions.” The agreement, to the tune of $75 million, was signed by Infantino, Gaza Executive Board of Peace member Yakir Gaby, the High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov and Chief Commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza Dr Ali Shaath. 

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With Gaza completely in the hands of a foreign agenda led by the US, Phase IV of the FIFA plan which details the construction of a national stadium with 20,000 seat capacity “reinforcing national identity, generating commercial revenues and serving as a long-term anchor for community cohesion” makes one wonder what Infantino, FIFA and the Board of Peace know of Palestinian national identity. For example, the existence of Palestinian national identity prior to Zionism and colonialism, and how identity was part of the anti-colonial struggle against Zionism. How much does Infantino know of how Gaza represents the entirety of Palestine, and not the image imposed upon the area and its people by all who want it destroyed to accelerate Israel’s colonial expansion?

Out of 808 athletes killed by Israel during the genocide in Gaza, 421 were football players. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Israel killed 344 football players. Despite this, FIFA has repeatedly refused to take action against Israel.

Out of 808 athletes killed by Israel during the genocide in Gaza, 421 were football players. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Israel killed 344 football players. Despite this, FIFA has repeatedly refused to take action against Israel.

Israel has a seat on the Board of Peace. Palestinians do not. 

In 2025 in Zurich, Infantino stated, “FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems, but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.” The Board of Peace is prioritising none of these values, Palestinians are absent, and FIFA’s collaboration merely centres the organisation within the existing political power structure. Collaborating with the Board of Peace does not support Gaza’s reconstruction for Palestinians. It supports Gaza’s reconstruction for Israel’s benefit.

At no point did FIFA seek to penalise Israel during the genocide. As much as the US tries to portray Gaza as barren land after the genocide, the land is replete with dead bodies of Palestinians that have yet to be retrieved. Building over a territory that resembles one large mass grave obliterates a considerable part of Palestinian identity, but FIFA is trying to convince the world that building a stadium over obliteration can actually enhanc Palestinian identity. 

BLOG: Reconstructing the details of Israel’s obliteration of Palestinians

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