FIFA is not an independent sports organization; it is a political tool. | | Thoughts

This World Cup has put FIFA and its leadership under a lot of scrutiny. His decision to change the suspension of the American football player after US President Donald Trump intervened has upset fans around the world. In the meantime, the players who favor Argentina have been criticized for their decisions in the games against Egypt and Cape Verde.

In Palestine, we have seen and experienced the fraud of FIFA for many years. Although his law requires the organization to do so respect for human rightsit has systematically failed to do so when it comes to Palestinian football.

It has repeatedly rejected demands by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA) for allowing its league games to be played on land occupied by Palestinians and looted by groups living in illegal settlements.

He did not condemn the killing and mass maiming of Palestinian football players or demand the release of arrested football players – most recently Rand Halawani and Natalie Abu Dayyeh, members of the Palestinian women’s football team. It did not protest against the destruction of Palestinian football stadiums. Nothing has been done to force Israel to abandon the various policies that restrict and interfere with Palestinian football, including denying visiting permits to Palestinian teams.

The IFA has not only tolerated and implemented racism, discrimination and occupation, but has also taken part in trying to appreciate the participation of Israeli football players in war crimes in Gaza or Lebanon.

Despite the rulings of the International Court of Justice and various UN resolutions, FIFA continues to say that the interests of Palestine are difficult. “a very serious issue under international law” and that “the final West Bank order has not been resolved”. This is not only an acceptance of Israel’s diplomatic policies, an acceptance by the Trump administration to defend its ally Israel and to accept the theft of Palestinian land.

Just as Israel has used tourism, antiquities, religion, agriculture and other means to establish itself illegally, it has done so through football – with the help of FIFA.

FIFA’s support for Israel’s crimes has increased under the leadership of Gianni Infantino. Human rights organizations sent Infantino’s actions to the International Court of Justice, accusing him of “knowing well that these practices constitute human rights violations, discrimination and war crimes” and ignoring several reports and letters on the matter.

FIFA leaders didn’t just stay silent on Israel’s wrongdoing and the IFA’s involvement, they participated in their own cleanup. Last month, FIFA said that Palestine should play Israel as the opening game of the U-15 tournament to “promote peace”. A few weeks earlier, Infantino tried to force the PFA leader to shake hands with his Israeli counterpart.

FIFA is clearly no longer an international sports body, which according to its constitution must avoid political interference. It has been transformed into a political tool that supports the foreign policy of the US and its allies.

Infantino himself is a great example of this. In 2018, for no apparent reason, he attended the signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington – an agreement that sought to remove the Palestinian question from the Arab world. In 2021, he participated in a rally for the right-wing Israeli newspaper, the Jerusalem Post, held at the site of the desecrated Mamillah Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem.

In February, Infantino took part in the inauguration of the “Board of Peace”, which aims to end the UN’s involvement in the Palestinian question and stop any international effort to end the occupation and genocide of Israel. He also announced “an agreement to help start healing and peace through football” with the team.

The ongoing controversies surrounding the World Cup must be clearly understood in this context. FIFA has lost its independent decision-making power as the world’s governing body and has abdicated its mandate to keep politics out of football.

When asked about the various offenses committed by the US as a team against soccer players, players and fans, Infantino told the public that they should “chill, relax”.

All this is seriously damaging public trust in international organizations like FIFA. It is a threat to international football and its reputation as an inclusive sport. If Infantino doesn’t drastically change his ways, the legacy he will leave behind is destruction.

But Palestinian football will endure. The game has been around since St George’s School was founded in Jerusalem in 1904. Since then, football has been part of every moment of Palestinian life. And like all things Palestinian, it has the power to survive, murder and corrupt FIFA.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.