Football cannot keep acting like it’s business as usual when it comes to Israel.

Football cannot keep acting like it’s business as usual when it comes to Israel.

Nothing made this more apparent than the clashes between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and pro-Palestine supporters in Amsterdam this past week. The reporting of this incident from mainstream media has been unsettling to watch unfold. 

Despite clear evidence of anti-Arab chants, vandalism and violence against Dutch locals by Israeli fans, the conflict has predominantly been framed as one-sided and antisemitic. In one of the more glaring examples, we saw twice-deleted news posts from the same outlet with completely different angles of reporting.

All forms of violence have no place in any football space – whether instigative or retaliatory. But the fact outlets that many rely on for balanced reporting have instead shown clear bias only fuels concerns already held by many that no-one is willing to hold Israel accountable – inside of football or otherwise.

Instead, Maccabi’s next Europa League game against Beşiktaş will now be held at a neutral venue in Hungary behind closed doors – simultaneously denying the Turkish team’s fans a big matchday and refusing to hold Maccabi responsible for the actions of its fans. It’s also worth noting that Hungary has banned pro-Palestine demonstrations so its status as a neutral in this context doesn’t really hold up.

This is just the latest in a string of events where Israel’s impunity goes unchecked within the sport. The escalation of their genocide in Gaza has resulted in the death of over 500 athletes, including over 200 footballers. The Palestine national football team continue to make history on the road while dealing with the scale and trauma of their losses back home. In September, the Lebanese FA were forced to postpone all domestic matches due to Israeli attacks in the country. The footballing consequences of Israel’s actions are clear for all to see.

There has been a collective call for Israel’s national team and clubs to be expelled from FIFA and UEFA competitions, as has happened to Russia in 2022 following their invasion of Ukraine. In February, 12 Middle Eastern football associations wrote a letter to FIFA, all 211 football federations, and six regional confederations calling for Israel’s expulsion from global participation in football.

Two months later, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) then tabled a motion to football’s world governing body requesting Israel’s suspension for breaking international law in its occupational onslaught on Gaza, discriminating against Arab players and having five Israeli clubs from illegal settlements on Palestinian territory in its domestic league.

Instead, FIFA has repeatedly postponed a decision and kicked the can down the road as far as it can go. The most recent deferral happened after a meeting at its headquarters in Zurich in October 2024 where FIFA said its disciplinary committee will review the allegations of discrimination that have been raised by the PFA. Meanwhile, Russia were a mere four days into their invasion of Ukraine before FIFA expelled them from competition.

Even on a much smaller scale back in Europe, pro-Palestinian advocacy in stadia remains completely condemned. In the absence of proper leadership at a senior level, fans across the continent have taken it upon themselves to raise awareness and set the record straight wherever they can. But this is not without backlash.

In October, Paris Saint-Germain ultras unveiled a giant ‘Free Palestine’ tifo before their Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid. But after French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticised this act of solidarity as “unacceptable”, PSG promised to “guarantee the absence of political messages” in the stands. UEFA fined Celtic £15,200 in 2023 for their support for Palestine in stadia, but the Scottish club’s fans have not relented in their loyalty to the cause.

Even at the best of times, football still has an accountability problem. But this is one of the many issues within the game that stains its purity. Decision makers would rather avoid taking difficult decisions than use their power to make the sport the safe haven it promotes itself to be.

How can anyone call football ‘the people’s game’ when those in charge continuously treat people differently?