The Swiss Canton of Vaud is poised to make a significant statement on the international stage, potentially impacting the future of European football governance. Councillors are scheduled to vote on Tuesday regarding a resolution that could lead to the revocation of UEFA’s longstanding tax-exempt status, a move spurred by the organization’s failure to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA). This decision, as reported by Middle East Eye, highlights a growing pressure on sporting bodies to align their actions with international law and principles of peace.
الضغط على الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم: سحب الإعفاء الضريبي بسبب عدم تعليق عضوية إسرائيل
The debate centers around UEFA’s continued recognition of Israeli clubs based in territories considered unlawfully occupied by many in the international community – Palestine. Currently, international sports federations, including UEFA, benefit from tax exemptions within Vaud, contingent on demonstrating a commitment to promoting peace, combating racism, and upholding principles of non-discrimination. However, proponents of the resolution argue that UEFA’s actions directly contradict this mandate.
“The only reason UEFA has this tax exemption is because international sports federations are expected to promote peace,” explained Theophile Schenker, a Vaud councillor and key initiator of the resolution, in an interview with Middle East Eye. “Right now, by maintaining the Israeli Football Association as a member, they are not meeting that condition.” This sentiment reflects a broader concern that sporting organizations are not consistently applying ethical standards to geopolitical conflicts.
رأي محكمة العدل الدولية وتأثيره على النقاش
The resolution specifically references the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19th, 2024. The ICJ ruled that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip is inherently unlawful. This legal assessment forms the core argument for why UEFA’s continued association with the IFA is unacceptable.
Critics point to what they perceive as a double standard in UEFA’s approach. The swift sanctioning of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine stands in stark contrast to the lack of comparable action against Israel. This disparity, they argue, effectively enables violations of international law and undermines the credibility of the organization. The issue of الوضع في فلسطين (the situation in Palestine) is central to this debate.
اتهامات بازدواجية المعايير وتجاهل القانون الدولي
Schenker further highlighted recent actions by Israel as justification for urgent action. He specifically denounced the suspension of access to Gaza for over 30 international NGOs and the approval of 19 new settlements in occupied Palestine in December. “By persisting in its failure to react and continuing to recognise clubs located in illegally occupied territories, UEFA is sending a signal that it condones these actions. Football deserves better than that,” Schenker stated.
It’s important to note that the resolution doesn’t directly strip UEFA of its tax privileges. Instead, it initiates formal proceedings, requesting UEFA to provide justification for its current position in relation to its stated commitment to peace promotion. The Vaud government will then reassess the exemption based on UEFA’s response. Should the government rule against UEFA, the organization has the right to appeal the decision in court.
خطوة رمزية ذات تأثير محتمل
Despite acknowledging the symbolic nature of the resolution, Schenker believes it carries significant weight. “We know a resolution is symbolic,” he admitted to MEE. “But it sends a clear message. When parliament votes on something like this, the government usually follows up. And UEFA will notice it too.” The vote itself is intended to exert pressure and signal a growing dissatisfaction with UEFA’s perceived inaction. The broader context of الحوكمة الرياضية (sports governance) is also being brought into focus.
دعم واسع النطاق وتحديات محتملة
The resolution currently enjoys support from four different political parties, spanning the left to the liberal Greens. However, its ultimate success depends on securing the backing of more conservative councillors. “We hope to win. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible,” Schenker said, estimating he has secured around 65 votes out of the 150 seats in the Grand Council of Vaud. He is actively working to persuade his right-wing colleagues.
Even before any governmental action is taken, the parliamentary vote is expected to send a strong message to UEFA. Schenker suggests that the organization is already facing internal pressure and that the resolution could provide the “missing energy” needed for member associations to push for the suspension of Israel, aligning with the ICJ ruling.
معلومات مسربة وتصريحات حول الضغوط الداخلية
A source familiar with the matter revealed to Middle East Eye that UEFA’s executive committee was scheduled to vote on suspending Israel on September 30th, citing the situation in Gaza. However, the vote was reportedly paused following a ceasefire proposal by former US President Donald Trump on September 29th.
Ashish Prashar, from the campaign group Game Over Israel, emphasized the power UEFA’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, holds. “Ceferin’s choice not to suspend the IFA is politics. You can’t separate politics from football,” Prashar stated. He further criticized Ceferin’s decision to halt the September vote, suggesting it was either complicit or naive, given the perceived lack of genuine commitment to peace from the Trump administration. Prashar argues that UEFA must either remove Israel from the European confederation or accept responsibility for protecting impunity, highlighting the importance of حقوق الإنسان في الرياضة (human rights in sport).
Ultimately, the vote in Vaud represents a growing demand for accountability within the world of football. Whether it will translate into concrete action by UEFA remains to be seen, but it undeniably places the organization under increased scrutiny and forces a reckoning with its responsibilities regarding international law and ethical considerations.
