Toronto activists call for FIFA to 'kick Israel out' hours before World Cup opener

'Kick Israel Out of FIFA' could be read on the official FIFA sign in Toronto, Canada, just hours before the national team hosts Bosnia, as activists staged a protest on the second day of the World Cup

The City of Toronto's official FIFA World Cup sign was covered by activists on Friday morning, who instead displayed a clear message to the governing body with a "kick Israel out of FIFA" sign.

The Canadian national team will host Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on Friday afternoon, the first-ever World Cup game hosted in the nation. A near-sellout crowd of 45,000 is expected, made possible by the city's $100 million investment into temporary stands.

FIFA has faced a lot of criticism heading into this World Cup, and now Toronto activists have called for the governing body to take action against Israel. The activist group has alleged that FIFA has double standards, following Russia's removal from competitions in 2022.

The group of activists sought to deliver an "unmissable visual message" to FIFA's leadership. With the whole of Canada focusing on today's opening game in Toronto, the protest was certainly seen and heard.

The protest was organized by human rights advocates and passionate football fans, aiming to cause significant disruption to visibility in a high-profile section of the city and deliver a direct demand to FIFA. The activists believe that FIFA has spent years ignoring its own rulebook and have accused it of protecting the Israel Football Association (IFA).

A spokesperson for the activists told Mirror US Sports, "Today, we are pointing out how FIFA's own constitution forbids countries from playing games on occupied territory without permission. FIFA is violating its own constitution by doing so, explicitly taking political positions and sportswashing Israel's crimes through broadcasting the games.

"In addition to that, demonstrating its inconsistency. A few days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it kicked Russia out. Whereas we are two-and-a-half years into a genocide, the occupation of Syrian territory, and the war against Iran.

"We see no similar stance taken by FIFA, so that demonstrates to us that FIFA is taking political positions even though it claims to be neutral. So we are calling that out."

When asked if FIFA has responded to any of the allegations, the spokesperson added, "They've just ignored us completely; they haven't taken any meaningful action." The plan for Friday's protest was clear.

"We are hoping to get the attention of the general population. Today is the first day of games being played in Canada. It's a good time to broadcast the message and get it out. It's about the integrity of the game and the hope that soccer can unify people, but we can't do that when there are clear double standards and political favors done for countries committing war crimes."

Russia's invasion came just four years after it hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Russia has yet to be reinstated in international competitions, and individual athletes from Russia and Belarus still have their flags removed in sports such as tennis.

The activists have also called out FIFA for allowing Israeli league teams to play matches on illegally occupied Palestinian and Syrian land. They also say that some of those matches have been broadcast on FIFA’s official channel.

In a press release, activists said, "You cannot celebrate 'fair play' while Palestinian stadiums are turned into military detention camps and hundreds of players, coaches, and referees have been killed. Organizers demand an end to the sporting normalization of these actions."

The group also added: "FIFA claims to be neutral, yet its executives use that 'neutrality' as a marketing shield while catering to political interests. Organizers are warning World Cup sponsors that their brands are funding a glaring ethical double standard."

Meanwhile, Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, says he has yet to be granted a U.S. visa for the World Cup. Rajoub attended Thursday's World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City.

While the Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, FIFA usually invites the heads of football associations. "I don't believe that it's fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend," Rajoub told the Associated Press.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino insisted last year that everyone would be welcome at the World Cup, but then said on Wednesday that it had no control over visas or border control. "We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces," he said.

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