The Red Card campaign calling for Israel's suspension from FIFA continues as the BDS movement gains strength

The distribution of thousands of leaflets and red cards at the Mapei stadium in the Italian city of Reggio before the Italy-Israel match on September 5 capped off a series of initiatives organized by local and national groups and associations to raise awareness on Israel’s violations of human rights and international law, which affect basic rights such as participating in sports.

Activists of the movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel explained the reasons for the protest to fans, inviting them to red card Israel, which for 70 years has violated Palestinian human rights and international law, imposing a regime of colonization, military occupation and apartheid that does not spare the world of sports. As red cards were handed out, the call to suspend Israel from FIFA until it respects the statutes of the federation, human rights and international law was echoed on social media where the #RedCardIsrael hashtag appeared with the match hashtag.

Many fans welcomed the distribution of red cards and were already aware of the initiative thanks to coverage on local and national media, including widely read sports papers and questions from journalists during the official match press conference . 

However, at the entrance to the stadium, security forces systematically intimidated and searched people looking for red cards, fearing calls for Israel's suspension from FIFA during the match.

Despite the fact that the initiative had been authorized, and occurred without incident, when it was over a young activist from BDS Reggio Emilia was followed by the police as he left the stadium area and stopped to be identified. BDS Italy strongly condemns these kinds of measures that have the sole purpose of intimidating activists exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Events supporting Palestinian rights, also to sports, kicked off on Saturday, September 2, with a flashmob on a central square, where locals stopped to have their photograph taken with a red card in solidarity the Palestinian struggle for equal rights.

The day before, Councilor Yuri Torri submitted a written question to the Legislative Assembly of the Emilia Romagna Region, urging the administration to join the campaign for the suspension of Israel from FIFA.

On Monday, September 4, a public talk on the right to sport for all in Palestine, supported by local sections of popular sports organization UISP, trade unions FIOM and CGIL, Pax Christi and ARCI, saw a large turnout attentive to the testimonies of the speakers on the situation of sports under occupation characterized by Israeli violations that limit and often impede the activities of both professional and amateur sports. During the meeting, the Red Card Israel campaign was presented, with an invitation to join the nonviolent BDS movement to support Palestinian rights.

That morning, BDS Italy held a press conference in a venue of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia where the "Red Card Israel" campaign and the initiatives for the Italy-Israel match were presented.

In the days leading up to the match, nearly every night on the busy streets of the city banners urging "No to Israeli apartheid" appeared. 

BDS Italia wishes to thank all activists and supporters of Palestinian right who contributed to the success of the events in Reggio Emilia. The positive results encourage us to continue the "Red Card Israel" campaign and the sports boycott and further develop the BDS movement to end Israel's violations of human rights and international law.

Freedom, Justice, Equality for Palestinians!

BDS Italy

BDS Italia is composed of associations and groups throughout Italy that have endorsed the 2005 call by Palestinian civil society for boycott, disinvestment and sanctions against Israel and complicit companies until Israel respects international law and human rights. The BDS movement supports equal rights for all and is therefore opposed to all forms of racism, fascism, sexism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, ethnic and religious discrimination.

The Red Card campaign calling for Israel's suspension from FIFA continues as the BDS movement gains strength