The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran has formally requested that the Fédération Internationale de Football Association suspend the Israel Football Association over Israel’s military operation in Gaza. 

In a statement on their website, FFIRI asked FIFA to “completely suspend” IFA from all football-related activities and to take “immediate and serious measures” to stop Israel’s “crimes” in Gaza. 

They also requested that FIFA and its 211 member associations provide humanitarian assistance such as food, water, medicine and medical supplies to the “innocent civilians” in Gaza.

The hostilities in Gaza began on October 7th when the militant group Hamas launched a major rocket attack on Israel. This sparked an escalation that has resulted in approximately 1,160 deaths, mostly Palestinian civilians according to AFP tallies based on Israeli figures. 

In response, Israel has conducted an extensive bombing campaign and ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas’s capabilities. Gaza’s Health Ministry, run by Hamas, claims at least 27,947 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed so far.  

Iran supports Hamas but denies direct military involvement in the conflict. Iran does not recognize Israel and prohibits any contact between Iranian and Israeli athletes. Last August, weightlifter Mostafa Rajaei received a lifetime ban from FFIRI for shaking hands with an Israeli competitor at a meet in Poland. The head weightlifting coach was also dismissed.

In 2021 Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei told athletes to refrain from friendly gestures like handshake photos “with a representative of the criminal Israeli regime to obtain a medal.”  

A coalition of Middle East football associations including Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE has also lobbied FIFA to issue a ban on Israel over the Gaza attacks, according to recent media reports.