WBII Launches Campaign to Defend Israel’s Position in FIFA

We Believe In Israel (WBII) is launching a new campaign to safeguard Israel’s rightful place within FIFA and to urge the international football community to reject any unjust attempts to ban or sanction the Israel Football Association (IFA).

There has been a worrying push by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to use FIFA as a vehicle for punitive actions against the IFA. If these efforts are allowed to succeed, they would not only undermine the unity that football is meant to promote but also set a troubling precedent for injecting political agendas into international sport.

The accusations against the IFA—claiming that Israel deliberately targets Palestinian footballers and facilities—are entirely without basis. These claims are part of a wider strategy aimed at delegitimising Israel on the global stage, evoking harmful and historically prejudiced narratives. At WBII, we believe that these efforts are not just an attack on one nation; they undermine the core values of fairness and inclusivity that FIFA is meant to uphold.

Israeli football has long been a beacon of cohesion and coexistence within a diverse society. Arab Israelis play a significant role in the national leagues, contributing to a vibrant football culture that unites people from all backgrounds. Any ban or sanction against Israel would not only harm the nation as a whole but would also unfairly impact the Arab Israeli community—a group often overlooked by those who claim to stand for equality and justice.

As part of this campaign, we are calling on all our supporters and friends of Israel to take action. We urge you to write a letter to FIFA leadership, following our model, to ensure that the organisation remains a force for unity rather than division. Your voice can make a difference in ensuring that FIFA stays true to the values that have made football the world’s most unifying sport.

We invite everyone who values fairness and integrity in international sport to join us in this crucial campaign. Together, we can ensure that FIFA remains focused on its mission and that Israel’s place in the international sporting community is preserved.

Thank you for your support in this important effort.

Click here to JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN 

See below the model letter we prepared:

Integrity of UEFA and FIFA
FIFA Strasse 20
P.O Box 8044 Zurich, Switzerland

Subject: A Call to Preserve the Integrity of FIFA

Dear President Aleksandr Cerefin,

I am writing  to express my deep concern regarding the recent efforts by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to impose sanctions on the Israel Football Association (IFA), with the ultimate goal of removing Israel from FIFA. Such a move threatens to politicise FIFA, thereby undermining the spirit of unity and cooperation that football has always sought to foster.

The allegations against the IFA, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinian footballers and facilities, are not merely unfounded but also disturbingly reminiscent of the old blood libel—a baseless slander historically used to vilify Jewish communities. This form of hostility, disguised as legitimate criticism, is part of a broader campaign to delegitimise Israel’s rightful place within the international sporting community. Allowing such a narrative to take root would compromise the core values of fairness and inclusivity that are central to FIFA’s mission, and would propagate a harmful discourse that has no place in a civilised society.

It is also crucial to acknowledge the inclusiveness inherent in Israeli society, particularly within the realm of football, where Arab Israelis play a significant and often underappreciated role. Football in Israel serves as a powerful unifying force, bringing together individuals of diverse faiths and ethnic backgrounds. Arab Israelis make up a substantial portion of the players in Israel’s national leagues, contributing significantly to the country’s sporting success. To ban Israel from FIFA would not only be a blow to the nation as a whole, but would disproportionately impact the Arab Israeli community—a community often overlooked by those quick to condemn Israel. In so doing, critics would be guilty of the very stigmatisation they claim to oppose, turning a blind eye to the reality of Israel’s inclusive society and harming those they purport to support.

Football has long been a force for cohesion, and nowhere is this truer than in Israel, where the sport plays a vital role in fostering coexistence and mutual understanding among its diverse population. To drag FIFA into political disputes would set a dangerous precedent, opening the door to further politicisation that could destabilise the organisation and entangle it in the conflicts of member associations. FIFA’s foremost duty is to remain impartial and to continue its role as a unifying force in international sports.

Moreover, the singling out of Israel in this manner raises serious concerns about discrimination and could easily be interpreted as a form of antisemitism, as outlined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). This is a matter of profound importance that requires careful consideration to avoid fostering division and resentment.

I therefore urge FIFA to resist any attempts to politicise the organisation and to uphold the principles that have made football the world’s most unifying sport—a sport that transcends borders and differences. It is imperative that FIFA remains focused on its mission to bring people together, rather than becoming a platform for political manoeuvring.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I trust that FIFA will continue to embody the values of fairness, inclusivity, and unity.

Yours sincerely,