Russia was immediately banned from international and club football, and no one knows when exactly they will return after they attacked Ukraine in Febr
Russia was immediately banned from international and club football, and no one knows when exactly they will return after they attacked Ukraine in February 2022.
The country has been playing domestic club football, but does not compete in the UEFA Club competitions. The Russian national team have been playing friendly games but not EURO and World Cup qualifiers and final tournament.
Many people across the world have been calling for the same sanctions for Israel, whose clubs and national teams are competing in UEFA and FIFA competitions.
The country has attacked Palestine since September 2023, and people are still wondering why FIFA and UEFA have failed to do the simple thing of kicking them out of the game.
Former Leeds United, Manchester United and France’s flamboyant forward Eric Cantona has disclosed that FIFA must sanction Israel.
Speaking at a programme called ‘Together for Palestine’, he said, “I played for France and Manchester United. I know that international football is more than just a sport. It is culture, it is political, it is soft power.
“In a way that a country represents itself on a global stage, the time has come to suspend Israel from that privilege.
“Four days after Russia started a war in Ukraine, Fifa and UEFA suspended Russia. We are now 716 days into what Amnesty International have called a genocide. And yet, Israel continues to be allowed to participate.
“Why? Why are there double standards? FIFA and UEFA must suspend Israel. Clubs everywhere must refuse to play Israeli teams. Current players everywhere must refuse to play against Israeli teams,” Cantona concluded.
FIFA and UEFA are now under pressure to react after Amnesty International called Israel’s attack on Palestine in 2023 ‘genocide’.
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