More than twenty years after the spectre of apartheid was finally ended in South Africa, the very same system of state-sanctioned discrimination is alive and well in Israel today. The 'Apartheid State' discriminates against Palestinians in every walk of life, including sport.
The world of sport cannot be divorced from other aspects of life and the standards deemed acceptable by sporting bodies, sends very powerful signals to the public.
So, why then, did Michel Platini, president of the European footballing authority UEFA, grant Israel the opportunity to host the 2013 European Under-21 Football Championship?
In 2010 Platini responded to Israel's restrictions on Palestinian athletes, by warning, "We accepted them in Europe and furnished them the conditions for membership and they must respect the letter of the laws and international regulations. Israel must choose between allowing Palestinian sport to continue and prosper or be forced to face the consequences for their behaviour." Bizarrely, a year later Platini granted Israel the right to host the Under-21 tournament.
A recent article we published highlighted numerous concerns about Israel hosting the tournament. Israel only recently concluded its disproportionate military offensive against Palestinians in Gaza. Racism directed towards black Israelis is rampant and politicians have joined racist demonstrations and denounced black citizens in Israel. Palestinians routinely face discrimination and restrictions on movement, mirroring conditions under apartheid in South Africa, and only recently the signing of two Chechen Muslim football players at Beitar Jerusalem Football Club. provoked uproar amongst its fans and an arson attack on the club's offices. Beitar Jerusalam's ground is due to host matches in the tournament.
MPACUK call on UEFA to reverse its decision to allow Israel the right to host the tournament and instead move it to England. Both the Jewish Chronicle and Daily Mail reported that UEFA considered asking the English Football Association to be on standby to host the tournament. Moving the tournament to England this summer would be the ideal opportunity for UEFA to set an example, by taking a stand against apartheid and do what's best for both football and its fans.
UEFA has previously committed itself to "banish[ing] this evil [racism] from football and society". Moving the 2013 European Under-21 Football Championship to England this summer would prove beyond doubt that UEFA really is intent on banishing the evils of racism and apartheid in football and society.
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