Soccer fans around the world call on FIFA, UEFA to 'show Israel the red card'

As Israel prepares to play 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, its soccer teams are facing calls to be banned from all competitions.

Soccer fans around the world have been chanting, unfurling banners and holding red placards demanding FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) "Show Israel the Red Card."

"It's amazing that it's reaching this far," Palestinian content creator Ahmed Bdair told CBC News. "All this kind of stuff has, honestly, pleasantly surprised me."

The campaign started on Feb. 12 during a Champions League game in Scotland. Fans of Celtic FC expressed support for Palestinians and called on FIFA and UEFA to "show Israel the red card."

According to the organizers, the protest was motivated by Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

"Israel is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing; it is practicing apartheid; and it is illegally occupying Palestinian territory. All of this is in breach of international law," the Green Brigades, Celtic's ultras fan group, said in a leaflet prior to the match. 

"We call on football fans around the world who value life, humanity, dignity, freedom, peace and justice to be courageous and to use your platform to stand against the crimes of Israel and stand with Palestine," the group continued.

The campaign has since spread to countries like Italy, Spain, Belgium, Malaysia, Tunisia, Brazil and Chile, among others.

FIFA and UEFA did not respond to CBC's repeated requests for a comment.

The protests come after Israel has killed nearly 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza in their post-Oct. 7 operations, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Among the Gaza death toll are at least 734 Palestinian athletes and scouts, including 382 soccer players, according to the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). The Israeli military says it has killed at least 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. 

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel where around 1,200 were killed and another 250 were taken hostage according to Israeli tallies.

In a statement to CBC News, the Israel Football Association (IFA) said its teams and athletes will not be deterred from participating in global sports events. 

"We encounter quite a few incidents of ignorance, self-righteousness, and abysmal hatred that ostensibly express protest. The facts and reality are well known to us and to many others, and no stupid sign will change them," the IFA said in its email.

This is not the first time Israel has faced scrutiny in the sports world since Oct. 7.