Italian Football Coaches Association Calls for Suspension of Israel from International Competitions
The Italian Football Coaches Association (AIAC) has officially urged international football governing bodies to suspend Israel from competitions, citing the ongoing violence in Gaza and its detrimental effects on athletes and sports personnel, reports 24brussels.
In a formal letter addressed to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the AIAC requested that the federation relay their appeal to UEFA and FIFA, advocating for Israel’s temporary exclusion from international football events. This demand arises ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifying matches against Israel, set for September 8 in Debrecen, Hungary, and October 14 in Udine, Italy.
“Israel must stop. Football must also take action,” the association asserted. The board of AIAC highlighted that, amid the daily violence and mass casualties, resulting in hundreds of deaths among coaches, managers, and athletes, it is “legitimate, necessary, indeed a duty, to place at the center of the federation’s discussions the request for Israel’s temporary exclusion from sporting competitions.”
The Italian Coaches’ Association (AIAC) has formally called on #FIFA and #UEFA to suspend “Israel” from international football tournaments, citing moral responsibility amid the ongoing genocidal war in #Gaza.
In a letter addressed to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president… pic.twitter.com/QejTP66lsS
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 20, 2025
Giancarlo Camolese, vice president of AIAC, commented, “We could simply focus on playing, looking the other way. But we believe that is not correct.”
Since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023, Palestinian officials report that nearly 62,122 Palestinians have been killed and 156,758 injured, with a significant number of these casualties being women and children. The Palestinian Football Association indicated that over 800 athletes have died in Gaza during the past 22 months, including 421 football players.
The AIAC’s appeal reflects an increasing convergence of sport and human rights, raising critical inquiries regarding the responsibilities of international sporting organizations amid extensive civilian casualties. As of now, UEFA and FIFA have yet to respond to the AIAC’s request.
