The Italian national football team will face Israel in the World Cup qualifiers between September and October.
The request by the Association of Italian Coaches, Assoallenatori (AIAC), was filed Tuesday.
AIAC, announcing its initiative to mobilise on behalf of the Palestinian people, describes it as “not just a symbolic action, but a necessary choice, responding to a moral imperative, shared by the entire leadership team” of the association led by Renzo Ulivieri.
“After an initial meeting within the presidency council, convened by Ulivieri,” AIAC announced, “the national board of the Assoallenatori unanimously agreed to send a letter of appeal to the President of the Italian Football Federation, Gravina, and to all federation members, urging Italian football to mobilise, within its own ranks, on behalf of the Palestinian people, putting forward a request, to be forwarded to UEFA and FIFA, for a temporary suspension of Israel from international competitions.
“The values of humanity, which underpin those of sport, compel us to oppose acts of oppression,” Ulivieri explained.
“[The fact that] we can only focus on playing, looking the other way … is unfair,” echoed Vice President Renzo Camolese.
“Too many innocent deaths, including many athletes. This is yet another reason to seek international countermeasures in our sector,” added Vice President Giuseppe Vossi.
“The world is in flames. Many people, like the Palestinians, are suffering. Indifference is unacceptable,” concluded Vice President Roberto Perondi.
ANSA
