FIFA has imposed a fine of 150,000 Swiss francs ($190,700) on the Israel Football Association for “multiple breaches” of its anti-discrimination obligations.
A report by FIFA’s disciplinary committee found that the IFA “failed to take meaningful action” against Beitar Jerusalem over “persistent and well-documented racist behaviour”.
The investigation was initiated after the Palestine Football Association submitted allegations of discrimination in October 2024.
Although FIFA did not enforce the suspension requested by the PFA, the disciplinary committee ruled that the IFA had failed to “abide by FIFA’s statutory objectives”, citing multiple incidents of racism within Israeli football.
The committee also criticised the sanctions imposed on Beitar Jerusalem, describing them as “deficient and substantively inadequate”.
Supporters of the club “have engaged in persistent and well-documented racist behaviour”, the report noted.
“The club’s use of slogans such as ‘forever pure’ and the repeated chanting of ethnic slurs such as ‘terrorist’ directed at Arab players are not isolated incidents but rather form part of a systemic pattern of conduct that offends the basic rules of decent behaviour and brings the sport into disrepute.”
FIFA added that Beitar Jerusalem represents “only a small example of a general failure by the IFA.”
As part of the sanctions, the IFA received a formal warning and was instructed to display a banner during its next three home matches in FIFA competitions reading, “Football Unites the World — No to Discrimination”.
The association must also allocate one-third of the fine towards implementing measures to “ensure action against discrimination and to prevent repeated incidents”.
The report further stated that the IFA’s failure to respond to “political and militaristic messaging” by the CEO of the Israeli professional league and Maccabi Netanya “further compounds its breach”.
“The IFA has made no public statements condemning racism, has not launched any Anti Discrimination campaigns, and has not taken steps to foster inclusion of Arab or Palestinian players,” the report continued.
“It has not used its platform to promote peace or to counteract the politicisation of football by affiliated clubs and officials.”
In response, the IFA defended its record, stating it had taken action against racism, although “most of the measures were not publicised”.
“Well before the fine for racism, the Federation and the clubs were already working and will work with a growing intensity against this repugnant scourge.”
‘no action’ over israeli teams in west bank
Following a separate review, FIFA stated it could not determine whether Israeli clubs based in the West Bank are eligible to participate in the Israeli league.
The organisation’s governance, audit and compliance committee explained that “the final legal status of the West Bank remains an unresolved and highly complex matter under public international law”.
The Palestine Football Association welcomed the decision, describing it as “a step in the right direction”, but noted that it did not fully address the extent of the concerns raised.
In 2024, experts affiliated with the United Nations Human Rights Council identified at least eight football clubs operating in “Israeli colonial settlements” and urged FIFA to “fulfil its responsibility to respect human rights”.
“The autonomy and self-regulation in sport must not be detrimental to fundamental human rights,” the experts stated.
The West Bank is home to roughly three million Palestinians, alongside more than 500,000 Israelis living in settlements and outposts considered illegal under international law.