Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: FIFA, UEFA, Mohamed Salah, Egypt
Josh Lawless
FIFA have been urged to ban Israel from international tournaments by a former player who also believes the United States should be stripped of the World Cup.
On Sunday, Mohamed Aboutrika, who played 100 times for Egypt, was providing analysis for Crystal Palace's Community Shield triumph over Liverpool at Wembley.
But Aboutrika, ranked second in the voting for the African Player of the Year voting in 2008, also weighed in with passionate thoughts about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Days before the Community Shield, UEFA released a statement on the death of Suleiman al-Obeid, a Palestinian footballer who was compared to Pele and scored 100 goals in his career.
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According to the Palestine Football Association, the 41-year-old was killed in an Israeli attack in southern Gaza last week while waiting for humanitarian aid.
After UEFA shared a "farewell" on X, Liverpool star Mo Salah responded and wrote, "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”.
As per the Palestine FA, 421 footballers have been killed or died from starvation in Gaza, including 103 children.
Former Egyptian footballer
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And Aboutrika, who once celebrated a goal by revealing a t-shirt with the message, 'Sympathize with Gaza', has called for Israel and Israeli club sides to be banned by FIFA and UEFA.
"There are 760 Palestinian athletes martyred by Israel, including 420 footballers, while 140 football facilities have been destroyed," he said.
“FIFA and UEFA stopped Russia over its war on Ukraine. When will the Israeli occupation be stopped? We don’t want just words, we want real action.”
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He then criticised US president Donald Trump, deeming the country to have been complicit in the reported 60,000 deaths since October 2023 and demanding they are stripped of World Cup hosting duties.
The US are hosting alongside Canada and Mexico, staging a total of16 games - including the final.
Aboutrika added: "Do not celebrate with the real estate broker (US president Donald Trump) on the podium at the Club World Cup final, with hands stained with Palestinian blood.
“France, Britain and Germany are starting to wash their hands of Israel’s crimes. This is an occupation, and there is a resistance defending its land. If FIFA and UEFA are serious, they must ban Israeli teams; otherwise, they are complicit — as are we if we remain silent.”
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Last month, the United Nations rights office reported that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,300 Palestinians trying to receive food aid since late May.
In 2023, Salah spoke out and said he was "calling on world leaders to come together to prevent the further slaughter of innocent souls" as "humanity must prevail.”
FIFA have banned three national teams for political reasons in the past, while Russia remain suspended following the invasion of the Ukraine.
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Despite pressure from many corners, there is no such a ban in place for Israel at the time of writing.
In October, FIFA said they "remain extremely shocked by what is happening, and our thoughts are with those who are suffering, we urge all parties to restore peace to the region with immediate effect".
SPORTbible has contacted UEFA and FIFA for comment.