Arabic version: المحكمة الجنائية الدولية تفحص الفيفا واليويفا لتورطهما المزعوم في جرائم الحرب
On February 16, a group of Palestinian footballers, clubs, and advocacy groups referred the heads of FIFA and UEFA to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The 120-page filing accuses Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Čeferin of “aiding and abetting war crimes (specifically, the transfer of civilian population into occupied territories) and crimes against humanity (specifically, apartheid)”. According to Al Jazeera, this marks the first instance where sports executives face such serious allegations.
The complaint highlights the impact of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of 1,007 Palestinian sportspeople and the destruction of 184 sports facilities, while damaging 81 others. It argues that FIFA and UEFA’s inaction regarding Israeli clubs based in occupied territories contributes to the normalization of illegal settlements, directly contravening international law as established by the International Court of Justice and the United Nations General Assembly.
FIFA’s Infantino has publicly opposed banning Israeli teams from global competitions, labeling such a move as a defeat. This stance contrasts sharply with FIFA’s previous actions, such as the suspension of Russia from FIFA events due to its military actions in Ukraine. The complaint asserts that Infantino and Čeferin’s decisions not to act against the Israeli Football Association (IFA) have allowed the continuation of practices that support apartheid and war crimes.
The ICC will now conduct a preliminary examination of the complaint to assess its jurisdiction and the interests of justice. Should the investigation proceed, it could lead to significant legal consequences for the FIFA and UEFA leadership. The stakes are high, as the outcomes could set a crucial precedent in the pursuit of accountability for violations of international law in sports. The ongoing situation emphasizes the intertwining of sports and politics, challenging the narrative of neutrality often upheld by major sporting organizations.
