Former France and Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has called for Israel’s suspension from international football, accusing FIFA and UEFA of “double standards” for allowing its continued participation while Russia was swiftly banned following its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at the “Together for Palestine” concert in London on Friday, Cantona said football is more than just sport—it is also cultural and political soft power—and argued that Israel should be denied the privilege of international representation.
“Four days after Russia started a war against Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia. We are now 716 days into what Amnesty International has called a genocide, and yet Israel continues to be allowed to participate. Why the double standards?” Cantona questioned.
He further appealed to football clubs and players worldwide to boycott matches against Israeli teams, stressing the need for a united response.
“Clubs everywhere must refuse to play against Israeli teams. Current players must refuse to play against Israeli teams,” he added.
Cantona’s remarks came amid reports of intensified Israeli military operations. According to Al Jazeera, 91 Palestinians were killed in a single day, including 76 in Gaza City. Nearly 450,000 residents—almost half of the city’s population—have fled since Israel began its operation in August.
The conflict, ongoing since October 2023, has left at least 65,208 Palestinians dead and over 166,000 injured, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures cited by Al Jazeera. By contrast, 1,139 Israelis were killed during the October 7 Hamas attacks, in which around 200 people were taken hostage.
