Tuesday, May 21, ahead of Uefa’s annual congress in London, thirty activists from the Red Card Israeli Apartheid campaign demonstrated in front of the national headquarters of the Italian Football Federation (Federcalcio) in Rome to reiterate the call for the Under-21 championships to be moved from Israel.
A delegation met with General Director Antonello Valentini, who was given a dossier on the condition of sport in Palestine as well as highlights from the European campaign against rewarding Israel with an international sporting event. Included in the dossier were also the latest letters in support of the campaign by Luisa Morgantini, former vice president of European Parliament, and former Senator Vincenzo Vita, both calling for the championships to be moved from Israel.
Valentini recalled the Federcalcio’s sensitivity and commitment to Palestinian sports, stating that the aims of Federcalcio have always been to include rather than exclude. He also mentioned Federcalcio’s efforts to combat racism, a central issue at the upcoming UEFA Congress in London.
The activists responded that holding the finals in Israel will not only undermine any efforts made in the fight against racism, sending an ambiguous and misleading message, but even worse, would amout to condoning the policies of a country where discrimination and Apartheid are established by law. Israel has made exclusion an integral part of everyday life for all Palestinians, those who live and die under military occupation in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, Palestinians relegated to the status of "third class" citizens in Israel and refugees denied the right to return to the lands from which they were expelled by Israel in 1948 and 1967.
The delegation also underscored the global eco the Under-21 championships will have, creating an extraordinary opportunity for Israel, despite the above, to present itself on the world’s stage as a normal, democratic and "European" country.
In order to better illustrate the serious consequences of proceeding with the finals in Israel, the delegation requested a meeting with Giancarlo Abete, President of Federcalcio. Valentini committed to conveying the request.
The protest in Rome was endorsed by: Rome Palestine Solidarity Network, Rome BDS Group, To Remember Gaza, Un ponte per ..., Friends of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Freedom Flotilla Italy, Party of the Italian Communists, the Palestinian Community of Rome and Lazio, and Friends of Palestinian Prisoners Italy.
Friday, May 24 in London, outside the venue of the UEFA Annual Congress, activists from all over Europe, Italy included, will demonstrate in order to convince UEFA, thus far indifferent, to heed the calls originating from Palestinian football and supported by all those who refuse to see sports used to mask serious violations of international law and human rights.
The Red Card Israeli Apartheid campaign is calling for protests throughout Italy on June 8, the day of the Italy – Israel match, in the event UEFA chooses to play a part in this image campaign for Israel.
Red Card Israeli Apartheid
