(MENAFN) Kat Vilarev, legal adviser to the Palestine Football Association and an expert in sports law, has accused FIFA and UEFA of violating international law by allowing Israel to participate in competitions despite credible allegations of genocide in Gaza reported by respected global organizations.

Speaking with a news agency, Vilarev emphasized that the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare have all produced reports condemning Israel's actions.

However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin have reportedly chosen to overlook these findings.

Vilarev added, "Both football and basketball associations use occupied Palestinian land as their own to stage competitions, which means that they directly aid the occupation and illegal settlements. Given the complicity of all levels of Israeli sports, global sports bodies should enforce their own statutes, human rights policies, and disciplinary codes and act consistently with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights."

She further highlighted that many Israeli athletes also serve as soldiers, with some advocating for Gaza’s destruction, while local clubs and sports associations openly support the occupation forces.

Vilarev concluded that FIFA and UEFA, which quickly expelled Russia and Belarus from international tournaments following the invasion of Ukraine, have chosen to ignore their own legal standards in order to shield Israel from responsibility.

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