Jibril Rajoub’s disgusting move: Urging FIFA to sanction Israeli football, all while game is stopped for Ramadan 

Jibril Rajoub’s Call for FIFA Sanctions on Israel Sparks Debate Amid Ramadan Gesture in Israeli Football

Rajoub’s demand, voiced prominently at the international level, included accusations of Israel practicing apartheid, reigniting a long-standing campaign to isolate Israeli sports. His statements have echoed globally, drawing attention to his claims of systemic discrimination and violations of FIFA statutes by the Israel Football Association (IFA). Yet, a recent event in the Israeli league casts a contrasting light on these allegations, raising questions about the narrative Rajoub seeks to advance.

In the latest match between Maccabi Netanya and Ashdod Sports Club, two teams in Israel’s top football league, play was briefly halted for a few minutes to accommodate Muslim players observing the Ramadan fast. This pause allowed them to break their fast with water, a gesture of inclusion that unfolded in the heart of the Jewish state’s professional sports scene. Far from the image of exclusion Rajoub paints, this moment highlights a practical acknowledgment of religious diversity within Israeli football—a league where Jewish, Muslim, and Christian players compete together. The question arises: how does this square with the “Israeli apartheid” label Rajoub champions?

Rajoub’s call for sanctions is not new; he has pressed FIFA before, notably in 2015 and 2017, citing issues like Israeli clubs in Samaria settlements. His rhetoric intensified post-October 7, 2023, framing Israel’s actions in Gaza as justification for a ban. Yet, the Ramadan pause in the Maccabi Netanya-Ashdod match offers a counterpoint—an example of coexistence that challenges the apartheid accusation. Critics might argue it’s a small gesture, not policy, but it’s a tangible act in a league Rajoub seeks to vilify. As FIFA weighs his demand, with a legal review pending, the world watches a complex clash of narratives unfold—one where a single water break could speak louder than political cries.