Today, outside Vitality Stadium during the English FA Cup Third Round match between AFC Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion, the Palestine Solidarity Movement is staging a peaceful and silent protest.
This protest is not aimed at the teams or the club. We deeply value the spirit of sport and stand proudly with our local teams. Our message is directed at FIFA: it is time to ban Israel from international football due to its ongoing genocide in Gaza and apartheid policies in the West Bank.
FIFA has set precedents for standing against injustice. During apartheid, South Africa was banned from international football until it dismantled its oppressive regime. More recently, FIFA banned Russia from its competitions following its invasion of Ukraine. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the United Nations General Assembly have all recognised that Israel’s actions constitute apartheid. FIFA must uphold its principles of fairness and equality by excluding Israel from its games.
Israel’s policies have devastated countless young Palestinians, stripping them of their futures, including those with dreams of playing football. Adam, a 12-year-old attending the protest, says: “Over 16,000 potential footballers and athletes have been killed. How many champions have we lost to this violence?” Amal, a 58-year-old grandmother, adds: “Football symbolises unity and hope. FIFA must not allow it to shield oppression.”
The Palestine Solidarity Movement calls on FIFA to follow its own history of addressing injustice and to remove Israel from all international competitions.
More information about the global campaign to hold Israel accountable in sports can be found on the BDS Movement’s website.
Stay updated by following us on Instagram: @PalestineSolidarityMvmt.
This action is part of a larger global movement to ensure that sports are not used as a platform to legitimise oppression.
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