Iran’s football federation requested Saturday that FIFA suspend Israel’s football federation over the country’s conflict in Gaza.
Iran asked FIFA to “completely suspend” the Israeli football federation “from all activities related to football” in a declaration posted on the Iranian football organization’s website.
The letter further requests “immediate and serious measures” by FIFA and its member associations “to prevent the continuation” of Israeli “crimes and provide food, drinking water, medicinal and medical supplies to innocent people and civilians”.
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7 with an unprecedented offensive by Hamas terrorists against Israel. According to an AFP assessment based on official Israeli data, approximately 1,160 persons were killed, the most of them were civilians.
In retaliation, Israel pledged to eliminate Hamas. It conducted air attacks and a ground offensive, killing at least 27,947 people, the majority of them were women and children, according to the Gaza Strip’s health ministry.
Iran has praised Hamas’ October 7 strike as a “success” while denying any direct involvement.
The Islamic republic does not recognize Israel, its sworn enemy, and forbids any contact between Iranian and Israeli athletes.
Mostafa Rajaei, a weightlifter, was given a lifelong ban by Iranian officials last August after shaking hands with an Israeli competitor at an event in Poland, according to state media.
The Iranian weightlifting federation also sacked Hamid Salehinia, the chief of the competition delegation.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s top leader, asked athletes “not to shake hands with a representative of the (Israeli) criminal regime in order to obtain a medal” in 2021.
A number of Middle Eastern football associations, including Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, have also “asked world football chiefs to ban Israel over the war against Hamas in Gaza,” Sky News said on Thursday.