Paul Pogba among 48 athletes calling for Israel's suspension from football competitions: Report

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :September 29, 2025 at 8:39 AM

Modified at :September 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Football stars have been collectively against Israel’s participation in any competitions.

According to an appeal made by 48 athletes, including Paul Pogba, Israel should be barred from all international tournaments.

As pressure mounts for the sport’s governing bodies to take action over the current war in Gaza ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Turkiye has become the first member of UEFA to officially ask for the Skyblue and Whites to be banned from all football events.

Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, president of the Turkish Football Federation, wrote to world football authorities on Friday, requesting that:

“it is now time for FIFA and UEFA to act” – referring to the world and European football governing bodies.

“Despite positioning themselves as defenders of civic values and peace, the sporting world and football institutions have remained silent for far too long,” Haciosmanoglu said, according to Turkiye’s state-run Anadolu news agency.

“Guided by these values, we feel compelled to raise our deep concern regarding the unlawful (and more importantly, completely inhumane and unacceptable) situation being carried out by the State of Israel in Gaza and its surrounding areas,” he added.

Football stars appeal to the football authority to remove Israel from all competitions

Paul Pogba AS Monaco — AS Monaco player Pogba has joined other players to sign the petition, which is asking to remove Israel from football competitions.

A group of 48 well-known professional athletes demanded on Friday that UEFA ban the Skyblue and Whites from all football tournaments due to their attack on Palestinians in Gaza.

Under the auspices of Athletes 4 Peace, France player Paul Pogba and 47 players signed a statement demanding the nation’s suspension from all tournaments.

The statement also mentioned Suleiman al-Obeid, popularly known as the Palestinian Pele, who was slain last month when Israeli forces attacked residents in southern Gaza who were waiting for humanitarian relief, according to the Palestine Football Association.

While UEFA can prevent Israel from playing in European events, it is powerless to prevent them from playing in World Cup qualifying tournaments administered by FIFA.

Why do football players want to remove Israel from all competitions?

Due to its attack on Palestinians in Gaza.

How many players have signed the petition to exclude the nation?

48 players, including Pogba, have signed the petition.

Who has the power to exclude a country from the 2026 World Cup?

UEFA can only remove a country from European tournaments. However, FIFA can do so when it comes to world stage competitions.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.