**FIFA Urged to Address Anti-Israel Campaign Ahead of World Cup**
**Meta Description:** Activists call on FIFA to halt the “Show Israel the Red Card” campaign before the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing the need for a strong stance against bias.
**URL Slug:** fifa-stop-anti-israel-campaign
**FIFA Urged to Address Anti-Israel Campaign Ahead of World Cup**
Liora Rez, founder of Stop Antisemitism, has called on FIFA and the White House’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Task Force to intervene against the “Show Israel the Red Card” campaign, which has gained traction ahead of the upcoming global soccer tournament. This campaign originated in February during a UEFA Champions League match in Scotland, where Celtic FC fans displayed a banner urging FIFA and UEFA to penalize Israel’s national team due to its actions in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas. Notably, no penalties were imposed on Celtic FC or its supporters for this display.
The campaign has since spread to various countries, including Italy, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, and Tunisia, as reported by CBC. Rez expressed her concern over FIFA’s inaction regarding this issue. “We’ve seen absolutely nothing, which is so alarming,” she stated in a recent interview. “The head of FIFA has not taken any action, and fans holding these signs have faced no consequences. We want the task force established by President Trump to proactively address this and make it clear that such behavior is unacceptable in the United States.”
Rez emphasized the need for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to take a definitive stance against the campaign. “It must be eradicated immediately,” she asserted. “Infantino should declare that bigotry and bias against the world’s only Jewish country will not be tolerated in any organization he leads.” She urged the task force to demand that this kind of bias and vilification of Israel is not welcome in the U.S., stating that Americans will not accept it.
In response to the growing concerns, Fox News Digital reached out to FIFA and UEFA for comments. The task force, led by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, was established to oversee the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
**FAQ**
**What is the “Show Israel the Red Card” campaign?**
The “Show Israel the Red Card” campaign is an initiative that began in February 2023, calling for FIFA and UEFA to penalize Israel’s national soccer team due to its actions in Gaza following the Hamas attacks.
