Human rights advocacy groups and Palestinian football stakeholders have filed a formal 120-page complaint at the International Criminal Court, alleging that FIFA and UEFA presidents Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin are complicit in war crimes by allowing Israeli clubs from illegal settlements to participate in their sanctioned competitions.
Advocacy groups and Palestinian football entities filed a formal complaint at the International Criminal Court against Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin.
The 120-page document alleges the presidents are “aiding war crimes” and “crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
The charges center on the inclusion of Israeli clubs based in illegal settlements, which the complainants argue legitimizes the seizure of Palestinian land.
The filing claims FIFA and UEFA provide “financial and structural support to settlement clubs,” effectively normalizing the occupation.
Infantino previously defended his stance, stating that national teams “should actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders.”
The ICC Prosecutor’s office will now conduct a preliminary examination to determine if a full investigation into the presidents is warranted.