A report claims that Zionist settlement clubs in the West Bank are being legitimized through the official structures of international football

A report by the organization Scottish Sport for Palestine makes strong accusations against FIFA and UEFA, claiming that these institutions are contributing to the normalization of the presence of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in the West Bank.

According to the report, by allowing the participation of clubs from these settlements in the official Israeli and international football system, the federations are helping to legitimize a reality that the organization describes as a violation of the right international.

The report, entitled “Beyond the green line. Israeli settlement clubs in Occupied Palestine”, argues that sport, and especially football, is being used as a political tool to consolidate control over disputed territories.

According to the authors, this form serves to improve the image of the settlements and to present them as a normal part of social and sports life, despite their disputed legal status.

According to the report, since 1967 Israel controls the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The settlements created in these areas are considered illegal by a number of international institutions, including the UN and the European Union, which link them to violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

These settlements include housing, infrastructure, roads and recreational facilities, including sports fields. According to the report, they serve not only as civilian settlements, but also as instruments of territorial expansion.

Today there are about 160 official settlements and nearly 200 outposts in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which continue to expand with political and institutional support.

The report emphasizes that several football clubs operate within these settlements and participate in the Israeli league system. According to him, this contributes to the normalization of the situation, creating the perception that the settlements are a common part of sports and social life.

In some cases, land previously used by Palestinians for agriculture has been transformed into soccer fields for settlers. This is presented as an example of the local population losing access to its territory.

A central part of the criticism is directed at FIFA and UEFA. According to the report, during their leadership by Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Čeferin, settlement clubs have become more deeply integrated into football structures, without decisive measures to stop them.

Although promises of investigations have been made, concrete measures have been limited, including only fines and statements that describe the legal situation of the West Bank as complex. Meanwhile, the clubs continue to participate in competitions and gain international exposure.

The report also claims that some matches are broadcast on official platforms, contributing to their increased visibility and normalization.

In conclusion, the report argues that the inclusion of these clubs in football structures contributes to the consolidation of an unjust and contested reality. According to the authors, FIFA and UEFA are not just neutral observers, but actors who, by action or inaction, influence the legitimization of the situation on the ground. square

Source: prizrenpost