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Swiss politicians push to revoke UEFA’s tax-exempt status over complicity with Israeli apartheid

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A banner which reads ‘Stop killing children – Stop killing civilians’ is displayed as players of both side’s line up prior to during the UEFA Super Cup 2025 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadio Friuli on August 13, 2025 in Udine, Italy. [Photo by Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images]

Swiss lawmakers have launched a formal effort to revoke UEFA’s tax-exempt status in Switzerland, citing the European football governing body’s continued affiliation with the Israeli Football Association (IFA), which includes clubs based in Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The move follows a growing campaign by human rights advocates and football activists under the banner of #GameOverIsrael, which argues that UEFA is complicit in Israel’s apartheid and war crimes by continuing to grant legitimacy and financial support to the IFA. Swiss MPs and campaigners say UEFA is in breach of the very conditions that earned it tax benefits in the country, namely, its stated commitment to promoting peace, inclusion, and anti-racism through sport.

READ: Why a match with an Israeli team should not be taking place in my city

A resolution introduced by Swiss legislators references the 19 July 2024 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling confirming Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land. It argues that Swiss citizens, specifically in Vaud, are funding the illegal activities of the Israeli Football Association, and calls for an end to the double standards that allow UEFA to sanction Russian teams while taking no action against Israel.

“UEFA enjoys preferential tax treatment in Switzerland. This comes with certain obligations, including promoting the values of peace. A double standard is unacceptable. While UEFA has rightly chosen to sanction Russian teams, it has taken no action or measures against Israel to date,” said Raphaël Mahaim, Member of the National Council of Switzerland.

Campaigners note that the IFA currently fields five teams located in illegal Israeli settlements and continues to receive financial and institutional backing from UEFA. “UEFA is at the forefront of funding and normalising the apartheid and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian territories,” said Ashish Prashar, former Middle East Peace Envoy and Campaign Director for Game Over Israel. “The simple solution for UEFA and their President if they truly believe in international law, national law and promoting peace – is to suspend Israel.”

READ: What does the ICJ ruling mean for Israel’s supporters? MEMO in conversation with Kathryn Ravey

Legal experts and former UN officials have also weighed in, warning that UEFA’s credibility and tax status are both at risk. “UEFA has an opportunity… to align with the forces of law, justice, and global conscience,” said Richard Falk, former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine. “The refusal to take such a stand would be negatively etched in the collective memory of humanity.”

UEFA’s headquarters are located in Nyon, Switzerland, where local authorities are also considering action. Craig Mokhiber, former UN human rights official and President of the Gaza Tribunal, stated: “Today, on 10 December (International Human Rights Day) Swiss and cantonal authorities will start the debate on the continuation of UEFA’s privileged tax status. That status should be revoked until UEFA ends its complicity in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. And Swiss authorities should know that their international reputation as a leading proponent of humanitarian law is itself on trial in this process.”

The #GameOverIsrael campaign is backed by a broad coalition including ADC, Athletes 4 Peace, CODEPINK, The Gaza Tribunal, Health Workers 4 Palestine, the Hind Rajab Foundation, Tech for Palestine, and numerous legal scholars, footballers, and human rights defenders. The debate on UEFA’s tax status is expected to intensify ahead of a formal vote scheduled for January 2026.

READ: FIFA, UEFA flayed for disregarding international law by continuing to include Israel in competition

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Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Continue ReadingSwiss politicians push to revoke UEFA’s tax-exempt status over complicity with Israeli apartheid

US pressure delays UEFA suspension of Israel over Gaza war

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People take part in a march held in support of Palestine, takes place before the football match between the national football teams of Italy and Israel in UEFA Nations League in Udine, Italy on October 14, 2024. [Michele Novaga – Anadolu Agency]

Israeli newspapers and cross-media reports reported that Israel temporarily escaped expulsion from the European Football Association (UEFA), after intense diplomatic pressure was exerted by American and Israeli officials on the federation’s leaders, in light of increasing calls to exclude Israel from European competitions due to the war on Gaza.

Israeli media and several reports have confirmed that Israel has temporarily escaped expulsion from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) following intense diplomatic pressure from US and Israeli officials. The push comes amid growing calls to ban Israel from European football competitions due to its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

UEFA had been expected to discuss the possible exclusion of Israel under pressure from Qatar. However, that move was postponed after strong diplomatic intervention.

According to political analyst Trita Parsi, who posted on X, the United States — although not a UEFA member — played a direct role in lobbying European officials to prevent the suspension from being added to UEFA’s official agenda.

As a result, Israeli clubs will continue to participate in continental tournaments, as Maccabi Tel Aviv is scheduled to play its Europa League match against the Greek team PAOK Thessaloniki as scheduled.

Reports said that a series of behind-the-scenes talks involving diplomats, football officials, and influential sports figures in Europe helped reach this temporary compromise.

Meanwhile, a group of advisers at the UN Human Rights Council has called for Israel to be excluded from both UEFA and FIFA. However, the council does not hold any formal authority over international football bodies.

READ: Gaza aid flotilla vows to pursue Israel at ICC over drone assaults

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Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.

Continue ReadingUS pressure delays UEFA suspension of Israel over Gaza war

UN experts urge FIFA, UEFA to suspend Israel amid ‘ongoing genocide’ in Palestine

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View of the FIFA logo on December 01, 2022 in Doha, Qatar [Catherine Ivill/Getty Images]

The UN experts on Monday called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel’s national football team from international competitions, saying it is a “necessary response to address the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory,” Anadolu reports.

“The conclusion of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, that Israel is committing genocide is the latest in a growing number of international bodies affirming that genocide is being committed,” the experts said. They recalled that the International Court of Justice’s interim order of Jan. 26, 2024, reminded every country of its legal duty to act against genocide.

“Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual,” they said. “Sporting bodies must not turn a blind eye to grave human rights violations, especially when their platforms are used to normalize injustices.”

The experts clarified that the call targets the state of Israel and not individual players, saying: “We have always maintained that individuals cannot bear the consequences of the decisions their government makes.”

They further urged FIFA to “stop legitimizing the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” stressing: “There is a legal and moral imperative to take every measure possible to end the genocide in Gaza now.”

READ: UEFA: ‘Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians’

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.

Continue ReadingUN experts urge FIFA, UEFA to suspend Israel amid ‘ongoing genocide’ in Palestine

UEFA: ‘Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians’

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

A banner which reads ‘Stop killing children – Stop killing civilians’ is displayed as players of both side’s line up prior to during the UEFA Super Cup 2025 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadio Friuli on August 13, 2025 in Udine, Italy. [Photo by Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images]

Ahead of its Super Cup match between the Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham clubs, which took place on Tuesday at Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy, the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) rolled out a banner reading, “Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians,” in a hint of solidarity with the children of Gaza, who have been the victims of Israel’s war on the Strip for more than 21 months.

In conjunction with the stadium gesture, the UEFA reiterated its position through a post on its official X account that read, “From the UEFA Super Cup in Udine, the message is loud and clear. A banner. A call.”

Since 7 October, 2023, US-backed Israel has been committing genocidal crimes in Gaza. In killing, starving, destroying, and displacing Palestinians, Israel has ignored international calls and International Court of Justice rulings that it end its war on the strip. 

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has left 61,722 Palestinians killed and 525,000 injured, most of whom were women and children. The Israeli war has also left more than 9000 missing, hundreds of displaced Palestinians, and a famine that has killed 235 persons, including 106 children, so far.

READ: Salah criticises UEFA farewell for ‘Palestinian Pele’ not mentioning his death at hands of Israeli soldiers

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Continue ReadingUEFA: ‘Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians’