The Iranian Football Federation has urged FIFA to implement a suspension of football activities this Saturday, as Israel remains distant from all football-related engagements. The federation cites war crimes in Gaza and the massacre of innocent civilians, including players, coaches, and referees, as the basis for its request.
In a formal statement, the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran pressed FIFA to take urgent and serious measures to halt the ongoing crimes. The federation emphasized that immediate action is required to prevent further harm and to uphold the sport’s values on a global scale.
The organization also called for practical steps to aid civilians in Gaza by ensuring access to food, water, and medical supplies for those affected by the conflict and humanitarian crises in the region.
It was stated that FIFA, together with its member associations and football federations worldwide, must act swiftly. The message framed this as both a philanthropic responsibility and a commitment to the global football community charter, noting that Iran regards social and humanitarian duties as central to its mission within the sport.
Conflicts have intensified in Gaza, with reports indicating more than 28,000 fatalities in Israeli attacks in retaliation for Hamas strikes on October 7, which resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths on the other side. The federation underscored the gravity of these events and their impact on civilians as well as the broader football community that seeks to unite people through the sport.
Historically, Iran has condemned Israeli actions against Palestinians and has expressed sympathy for resistance groups. The country has also maintained a stance that affects sporting interactions, reflecting longstanding regional tensions and strategic alignments that shape how athletes compete and how states relate to one another in the arena of international sports.
Iran is linked with what is sometimes described as an axis of resistance. This informal alignment includes organizations and groups such as Hamas and its armed wings, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and other factions in the region, illustrating the broader geopolitical context in which sport and politics intersect in the Middle East.
Additionally, Tehran has refused to recognize Israel as a state in the sporting arena, a policy that has limited direct competition between Iranian athletes and their Israeli counterparts since the early 1990s and became more pronounced after relevant political developments. In August 2023, Iranian authorities took a firm stance by banning a weightlifter for life after he greeted an Israeli opponent at a competition held in Poland, an action that underscored the deep national sensitivities surrounding cross-border interactions in sport.
Observers note that these developments highlight the tension between political disputes and the spirit of international sport, a tension that governing bodies continually strive to manage. The call from the Iranian federation to suspend play reflects a broader discussion about how football organizations should respond when humanitarian crises intersect with competition and national disputes reach the playing field. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of global sports authorities to protect players, officials, and staff who are caught in situations of war and political standoffs, and how sanctions or suspensions might influence the broader humanitarian and peace-building agenda in a region scarred by ongoing conflict.