Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel from international football, citing the country's ongoing military operations in Gaza. Speaking at a Together 4 Palestine event in London, Cantona drew parallels with the swift sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, questioning why Israel has faced no similar action despite being accused of genocide by Amnesty International and a United Nations-commissioned inquiry.
“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 continue to be allowed to participate,” Cantona said. He urged clubs and players to refuse to play against Israeli teams, comparing the situation to the sporting boycott of apartheid-era South Africa.
Israel's national team is currently competing in World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 tournament, sitting third in their qualifying group. The country has not qualified for a World Cup since 1970 but remains in contention. Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv continue to participate in the Europa League.
Separately, Spanish politician Patxi Lopez suggested that Spain could boycott the 2026 World Cup if Israel qualifies. Lopez, a spokesperson for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, said: “We will assess the situation at the right time. What we want is for people to realize that if Israeli teams cannot take part in sporting events or Eurovision, some are starting to open their eyes.”
The issue has also affected cycling, with the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana cancelled due to protests against the Israel-Premier Tech team. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators frequently interrupted the Grand Tour before it was cut short.
