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FIFA
Genocide in Gaza – Western Hypocrisy and FIFA’s Double Standards
By Issam Khalidi Sports is not a marginal component in Gaza’s society. There was a time when Gaza was the center of gravity for Palestinian sports. In the same way that many others are concerned […]
‘Political Bias and Hypocrisy’ – Rights Groups Pressure FIFA to suspend Israel
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Rights groups have accused FIFA of applying “a different yardstick to Israeli actions” which undermines its credibility and exposes the world football body “to allegations of political bias and hypocrisy.” […]
A Kiss in Spain vs. Apartheid in Palestine: FIFA’s Selective Morality
By Paul Salvatori FIFA was quick to discipline Luis Rubiales for his sexual misconduct, but it doesn’t much care about how the Israeli occupation of Palestine has hurt the Palestinian football community, while dithering […]
Following Indonesia’s Decision Not to Host Israel, Football Championship Officially Moves to Argentina
The International Association Football Federation (FIFA) announced, on Monday, the transfer of the Under-20 World Youth Championship to Argentina instead of Indonesia, which was stripped of hosting tournment, due to its refusal to participate in […]
The Price of Solidarity: Palestine, Indonesia and the ‘Human Rights’ Dilemma
By Ramzy Baroud When I excitedly shared the news on social media that Indonesia had refused to host the Israeli team as part of the Under-20 World Cup, scheduled from May 20 to June […]
Israeli Forces Storm Palestinian Stadium, Fire Teargas during Cup Final
Israeli forces stormed a stadium in Jerusalem governorate on Thursday evening during a cup final game between Jabal Al-Mukaber and Balata FC, firing teargas onto the pitch and into the stands, Palestinian media reported. Two […]
FIFA Removes Indonesia as Host U-20 World Cup over Rejection of Israel’s Participation
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Indonesia has been stripped of the right to host the Under-20 Football World Cup over Jakarta’s refusal to host the Israeli team, FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday. “Following […]
FIFA Postpones U-20 World Cup following Indonesia’s Rejection of Israel’s Participation
The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) postponed on Sunday the draw for the Under-20 FIFA World Cup that was slated to take place in Indonesia next week, due to Jakarta’s refusal to host Israel’s […]
A Distant Dream: Why Not Many Gazans Made it to Qatar World Cup 2022
By Asma Abu Amra The crippling blockade and bad economic conditions in Gaza made it impossible for most Gazan football fans to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first ever held in an Arab […]
Kicking Out Israeli Apartheid from FIFA: In Conversation with Lina Abojaradeh, Jonathan Kuttab and Karen Rodman – PODCAST
By Palestine Chronicle Staff In this episode of “Palestine In Perspective”, host and Toronto-based writer for the Palestine Chronicle, Paul Salvatori, is joined by a unique guest panel: Palestinian visual artist and writer, Lina Abojaradeh; […]
FIFA Needs to Act to Kick Out Apartheid
By Jonathan Kuttab During the World Cup 2022, players and fans in Qatar, and people all over the world took a strong stand for Palestine. Social media was buzzing, and mainstream media from around the […]
Palestinians Call on FIFA to Condemn Israeli Killing of Palestinian Footballer
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has called on the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to condemn the killing of Ahmad Atef Mustafa Daraghma, a Palestinian soccer player, who was killed by Israeli forces […]
Pro-Israel Group Complains to FIFA about Moroccan Players Waiving Palestinian Flag
Pro-Israel campaign group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has protested against the waving of the Palestinian flag by the Moroccan football team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Middle East Monitor reported. According to […]
Hypocrisy and Double Standards: The FIFA Message to Palestine, the World
By Issam Khalidi The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the international sympathy with Ukraine illustrate the hypocrisy and double standards the West employs to handle this issue as opposed to the silence and superior handling […]
Cultural Warriors: Why Palestine’s Sports Victories Should Inspire Us
By Ramzy Baroud The Palestine National Football Team has, once more, done the seemingly impossible by qualifying for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. By any standards, this is a great achievement, especially as the […]
YMCA-Gaza New Field: A Boost for Palestinian Sports (PHOTOS)
By Palestine Chronicle Staff YMCA-Gaza inaugurated its football stadium in accordance with international standards, approved by the International Football Association FIFA. The special event was attended by a delegation of the pontifical mission in […]
Politics and Sports Do Mix: On FIFA’s Hypocrisy in Palestine and the Need to Isolate Apartheid Israel
By Ramzy Baroud Israel’s war on Palestinian sports is as old as the Israeli state itself. For Palestinians, sport is a critical aspect of their popular culture, and since Palestinian culture itself is a […]
Egyptian Football Player Aboutrika Slams FIFA for Applying ‘Double Standards’
By Palestine Chronicle Staff Former Egyptian football player Mohamed Aboutrika on Monday slammed the Federation of International Football (FIFA) for their failure to punish Israel, after the decision to ban Russia from all football […]
FIFA Fines Scottish FA after Fans Booed Israeli National Anthem
FIFA has fined the Scottish Football Association over £8,0oo($10,786) after Scotland supporters booed the Israeli national anthem during last month’s World Cup qualifier, the BBC reported. The SFA was also sanctioned for an inappropriate flag […]
FIFA President Opens Door to World Cup Co-Hosted by Israel, UAE
By Romana Rubeo The President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, raised the idea that Israel might co-host the World Cup in 2030, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office announced […]
Palestine Goes International: On Palestinian Achievements in Sports throughout the Decades
By Issam Khalidi Throughout decades, sports were a mirror that reflected Palestinian reality and portrayed it with all its details. The Palestinian struggle has always been multilateral and sport was one of them. Sports developments […]
Palestine Media Watch: A Trumpet for Zionist Propaganda
By Issam Khalidi The more Israel is internationally criticized for its repressive and brutal practices against Palestinians, the more it creates circumvented malicious methods and means to cover and justify its behavior and continue achieving […]
Israeli Court Confirms Travel Ban for Gaza Footballers, Preventing Palestine Cup Final
An Israeli court yesterday upheld a travel ban for Palestinian footballers from the occupied Gaza Strip, accepting the position of military and security officials who made the original decision. According to human rights group Gisha, the […]
When Palestinian Sports Become an Israeli Nightmare
By Issam Khalidi Just recently Israeli police stormed the YMCA in Jerusalem in order to cancel a memorial service for the late sports activist Ahmed Adela. The ceremony also included the honoring of his colleagues […]
We Must Boycott Israeli Sports as We Did with Apartheid South Africa
By Ramzy Baroud The Palestinian Football Association is struggling to survive. Combined US-Israeli pressure on Palestinian organizations that provide aid and support to the Palestinian people is now felt in the field of sports as well. […]
FIFA Turns Blind Eye to Israel’s Ban on Palestinian Football
FIFA is turning a blind eye to Israel’s ban on allowing Palestinians to hold matches as part of the Palestine Cup, Euro-Mediterranean Human Right Monitor said yesterday. In a statement, the rights group said that the Israeli […]
Do FIFA and Its President Infantino Publicly Declare Their Absolute Complicity with Israel?
By Issam Khalidi Just recently at the United States-brokered conference in Bahrain FIFA pledged to build more football pitches in the Palestinian “Territories” to present the economic side of a settlement plan for the Israeli-Palestinian […]
Palestinian Sports: Decades before and after the Nakba
By Issam Khalidi Most of sport sociologists believe that nothing awakens national feeling so easily and strongly as sporting success. Glorious history, royalty, a splendid army, democracy and the welfare system, ancient ideals and traditions […]
When FIFA Abandons Its Principles for the Satisfaction of Israel
By Issam Khalidi Sport has never been isolated from social, economic or political aspects. Certainly, the existence of sport outside the political arena is rare, and in many cases, we see the overlap between sport […]
Israel Barred from ‘Broadcasting International Football Games’ in Illegal settlements
Europe’s governing football body has banned Israel’s national broadcaster from showing World Cup and Euro 2020 football matches in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli broadcaster Kan bid around $5.8 million for the […]