World Football's Governing Body Cannot Resolve Geopolitical Problems, States President Gianni Infantino

FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared that the international football governing body "is not able to address geopolitical problems" as calls increase on sports authorities to take action against Israel.

A latest United Nations investigative panel determined last month that the Israeli government has carried out mass atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.

The involvement of Israel in soccer was omitted as a official topic on the schedule of a FIFA executive meeting held on Thursday.

Nonetheless, Infantino mentioned the subject in his introductory speech for the gathering at FIFA's main office in Switzerland.

The mid-fifties leader said FIFA was committed to "using the power of football" to "bring people together in a divided world".

"Our thoughts are with those who are enduring hardship in the numerous disputes that are ongoing around the world today, and the primary statement that football can communicate right now is one of peace and togetherness," the FIFA president said.

"FIFA cannot resolve international political challenges, but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its connecting, educational, societal and humanitarian values."

The Israeli squad is currently competing in qualification matches for next summer's World Cup tournament, while Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv are playing in the Europa League.

Amnesty International has urged FIFA, which organizes the World Cup, and UEFA, which organizes European competitions, to suspend the Israeli Football Association from their competitions.

FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani stated on Wednesday that UEFA should take the necessary action.

"Primarily, [Israel] is a member of UEFA, similar to I have to deal with a member of my area for whatever reason. They have to deal with that," he said.

The Israeli team are in third place in their World Cup qualifying group - organized by UEFA - six points behind behind leaders Norway.

The top team from each pool advances directly for the competition, with the second-place teams going into the play-offs.

The 2026 tournament is being jointly hosted by the US, the Mexican nation and the Canadian country.

The US president Donald Trump's administration has vowed to fight any efforts to block Israel from taking part.

The United Nations findings said there were sufficient evidence to determine the majority of atrocities defined under global statutes had been performed by Israel in the Gaza region since the beginning of the war in last year.

A panel of rights specialists at the UN later urged FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel's national team from global competitions, saying: "Athletics must refuse the notion that it is business as usual."

The Israeli government has regularly denied that its operations in the territory constitute genocide and says they are warranted as a method of protection.

Its foreign ministry called the United Nations document "misleading and false".