UN experts call on FIFA to respect int'l law over violations in Israel

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UN independent experts are calling on the powerful body that governs world football – or soccer – FIFA, to demand respect for international law from Israeli football clubs and their conduct regarding Occupied Palestinian Territory.

This call comes as many teams in the Israeli Football Association (IFA) have shown racist behaviour towards Palestinian people and players in recent years, according to the seven UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts.

The experts believe this “conduct” should be recognised in the context of Israel’s “unlawful presence” in Palestine. They explained that these acts are in “stark violation of international law” based on an International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion handed down on 19 July this year.

“Legally, this constitutes an act of aggression in violation of jus ad bellum. These are grave breaches of the [Fourth Geneva] Convention and amount to several crimes under the Rome Statute,” the experts said.

‘Non-derogable norms’

The UN experts urge FIFA’s ruling council to examine the matter at a meeting being held in October “to ensure that its decisions are in conformity with non-derogable norms of international law”.

“We remind FIFA that international human rights law, which includes the right to self-determination as well as the prohibition of racial discrimination and apartheid, applies to private international organisations, especially those that have global jurisdiction and mandates such as itself,” they said.

The experts say the football association must ensure human rights are respected and that self-regulation in sports is not harmful to said rights.

They are also asking FIFA to establish and promote zero-tolerance policies which ban discrimination and racism towards Palestinians by clubs and players in Israel.

Independent Special Rapporteurs and working group members are not UN staff, receive no salary for their work and do not represent any government or organization. - UN News