Sanction Israel in FIFA and UEFA tournaments, reporters urge

▲ On a large banner reading "We will be by your side today and always," Athletic Bilbao fans expressed their support for the Palestinian people during their recent Champions League match. Photo: AFP

AFP and Europa Press

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, p. a10

Geneva. Independent UN experts called on both FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel for its offensive in Gaza, a week after a commission from that organization declared that genocide is being perpetrated against the Palestinian people. However, the sanctions they are requesting would not target Israeli footballers.

"Sports authorities must not turn a blind eye to serious human rights violations," the three special rapporteurs and members of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights denounced in a statement.

"National teams representing states that commit massive human rights violations can and should be suspended, as has happened in the past," they insisted.

These experts are speaking independently, as they do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, as did the commission that declared a few days ago that "Israel is carrying out a genocide against Palestine." However, they maintain that Tel Aviv's suspension is "a necessary response to the ongoing genocide."

"Sport must reject the idea that everything can continue as usual," demand experts, including Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

"There is a legal and moral imperative to take all possible measures to end the genocide in Gaza now," they added.

When contacted by AFP, UEFA declined to comment, while FIFA opted not to comment at this time.

On September 16, for the first time, a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza since October 2023 with the intent to destroy Palestinians, amid growing international condemnation of the Israeli offensive.

These independent UN experts believe that the leaders of sports organizations "cannot remain neutral in the face of genocide."

However, they clarified that the boycott "must target the State of Israel and not individual players" and that, therefore, "footballers should not be sanctioned based on their origin or nationality."

Calls to suspend the Israeli national team from all competitions are growing. A few days ago, former French player Éric Cantona criticized the double standards applied by football governing bodies.

Double standards

“Four days after the war in Ukraine began, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia. We are now 716 days after the start of what various organizations call a genocide, and Israel is still allowed to participate. Why this double measure? FIFA and UEFA must suspend Israel. Clubs must refuse to play against Israeli teams,” Cantona said.

The day after the chaotic finish to the Vuelta a España in Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also urged the exclusion of Tel Aviv from sporting events "as long as the barbarity continues" in Gaza.

The Israeli offensive has caused the deaths of more than 65,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas government's Health Ministry, figures the UN considers reliable. Tel Aviv has also caused a hunger emergency among the population.

Since 1991, UEFA has admitted Israel as a national team to participate in European competitions, and since 1992, clubs from that country have competed in continental tournaments such as the Champions League.

Russia, due to its attacks on Ukraine, was banned from all international FIFA competitions in 2019, and was therefore unable to participate in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar or in the Olympic Games, such as those in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

As recently as August 2025, during the UEFA Super Cup between Tottenham and PSG, the organization sent a message before the match with a giant banner reading "Stop killing children, stop killing civilians." The message never mentioned Israeli officials.

▲ Box holders and the company that owns the Azteca stadium (now Banorte) finally reached an agreement in their dispute over their rights. Photo Cuartoscuro

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, p. a11

The company that owns the Azteca Stadium, Grupo Ollamani, which is affiliated with Televisa, informed box and stall holders that registration to "guarantee access to and use of seats within the venue during the 2026 World Cup" will close on Friday, September 26. Therefore, it warned that without submitting the completed form through its official website, they will not be able to enter the matches, in accordance with the provisions established by FIFA.

Unlike other World Cup venues in Mexico – Monterrey and Guadalajara – the Azteca, now called Banorte, had a problem with its box holders, who were demanding that the agreement in place since its construction in the 1960s be respected, when businessman Emilio Azcárraga Milmo sold the spaces to private investors for 115 thousand pesos at the time, granting the owners rights to use them for soccer matches, concerts and other events for 99 years.

After a legal dispute that lasted a year and a half, venue representatives reached an agreement with FIFA so that the seat owners retain their right to use the stadiums free of charge, as was the case in the 1970 and 1986 editions. The additional payment to the governing body, which stipulates in its rules that it have full control of the Copa stadiums for a period beginning 30 days before the first match and ending one week after the closing ceremony, will be covered by the company chaired by Emilio Azcárraga Jean, owner of América.

With the renovation work underway starting in 2024, the Banorte Stadium will have a capacity for 90,000 fans, and box holders, who control approximately 30 percent of the 12,500 boxes and stalls, will be able to access their seats upon prior registration. What FIFA did not stipulate in the agreement was the regular entry of food and beverages into its space, nor the corresponding use of parking spaces. According to publications related to the Mexican Association of Box and Stall Holders, the consumption of food, beer, soft drinks, and snacks will only be possible through the purchase of basic packages ($10,560 plus VAT) and premium packages ($15,000), set by the international federation.

Justice prevails

"These are issues we disagree on, but we will respect them," said Roberto Ruano, secretary of the box owners association. Service prices are subject to increase starting December 31, depending on the specific conditions of the box and the number of guests. "All we were seeking was respect for what they offered when they sold us, just as was the case at the 1970 and 1986 World Cups. In the end, justice prevailed."

In addition to hosting five matches during the 2026 World Cup, the Banorte Stadium will be the first in FIFA history to host the opening game three times. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced that the stadium's reopening is scheduled for March 28, although the opponent the national team will face on that date as part of its preparations is still unknown. According to official figures, the renovation project represented an investment of more than 3 billion pesos.

"The stadium will be renovated with a hybrid turf system and water suction and air injection, more than 2,200 square meters of indoor and outdoor screens; disabled areas; improved access for entry and flow of people; free Wi-Fi; and a new surveillance system," the venue's general manager, Félix Aguirre, announced last June.

For the 2026 World Cup, the registration form implemented by Grupo Ollamani requests box and stall holders provide a series of personal details, including seat numbers, ownership documents, email address, and official identification, which can be a valid voter ID or passport. Once these requirements are met, they can schedule an appointment to complete the accreditation process for their properties through the same website.

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, p. a11

Milan. Santiago Giménez's goal drought with Milan has come to an end. The Mexican striker scored his first goal of the season in his team's 3-0 victory over Lecce, which took them to the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia, in the match played at San Siro.

The Cruz Azul youth player opened the scoring for the Rossoneri in the 20th minute after finishing off a powerful cross from Davide Bartesaghi's left flank in the six-yard box, which proved impossible for German goalkeeper Christian Früchtl.

Chaquito 's most recent goal for his club was on August 9 in a preseason match against Leeds United.

In the second half, Frenchman Christopher Nkunku added another goal with an acrobatic effort from close range (51). It was his first since joining from Chelsea in August. In the 64th, American Christian Pulisic redirected a cross from Youssouf Fofana shortly after coming off the bench to seal the final score.

Milan's next opponent will be Lazio, one of the eight highest-ranked teams that have a direct place in the round of 16. The Rossoneri were unseeded, finishing eighth in Serie A last season, which also led to their absence from the European competitions, so coach Massimiliano Allegri has made this tournament a prime objective.

▲ The Mexican scored his first goal of the season with the Rossoneri yesterday in the Coppa Italia match against Lecce at the San Siro. Photo: AFP

Meanwhile, Fulham, with Raúl Jiménez as a starter, advanced to the third round of the English League Cup by beating Cambridge 1-0.

In La Liga, Kylian Mbappé scored twice in the space of three minutes, and Argentine teenager Franco Mastantuono scored his first goal for Real Madrid in a 4-1 away win against Levante, a result that extended the club's perfect start to the season.

Vinicius Jr. also scored for the Merengue team, which secured its sixth consecutive league victory.

"We're in a growth phase, a construction phase. We've been here for 51 days, and there's still a long way to go. We're building a solid foundation to be competitive in the Champions League , La Liga, and Copa del Rey," explained manager Xabi Alonso, who took over the reins of the club for this season.

▲ The Automated Ball and Strike System has been tested in the minor leagues since 2019. AP Photo

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, p. a12

New York. Robot umpires will be recalled to the Major Leagues next season after the so-called Automated Ball and Strike System was approved for use in the majors starting in 2026.

Humans will still call balls and strikes , but teams will be able to challenge two calls per game and receive additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be made by a pitcher, catcher, or batter, signaled by touching their helmet or cap, and a team retains its challenge if successful. Appeals will be displayed as digital graphics on the field's video screens.

The introduction of robot umpires could reduce ejections. According to MLB, 61.5 percent of ejections among players, managers, and coaches last year were related to balls and strikes , as were 60.3 percent this season through last Sunday.

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said players will have to adapt. “It’s a big change,” he said before the start of a three-game series against Detroit. “We saw it a little bit in spring training. It’s a new rule, and we’re going to have to learn how to use it. You may like it or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s here. It’s going to change the game forever.”

The automated system, which uses Hawk-Eye cameras, has been tested in the minor leagues since 2019. The independent Atlantic League tried it at its 2019 All-Star Game, and MLB installed the technology for the Arizona Fall League season, which recruits top prospects.

In Triple-A, at the start of the 2023 season, half of the games used robots for balls and strikes , and the other half had a human making decisions subject to team appeals.

MLB used the challenge system this year at 13 spring training stadiums hosting 19 teams for a total of 288 exhibition games. Teams won 52.2 percent of their ball-and -strike challenges.

This season in Triple-A, the average number of challenges per game increased to 4.2 from 3.9 through Sunday, and the success rate fell to 49.5 percent from 50.6 percent. Defenses were successful on 53.7 of those challenges this year, and offenses were successful on 45 percent.

MLB has experimented with different forms and interpretations of the strike zone within the system, including three-dimensional versions. Currently, it calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate.

“Throughout this process, we have worked to implement the system in a manner that is acceptable to players,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

This will be MLB's first major rule change since sweeping tweaks in 2024. These included a pitch clock, restrictions on defensive shifts, attempts to prevent stolen bases by pitchers, and larger bases.

The challenge system introduces the robotic umpire without eliminating pitch framing, a subtle art where catchers use their body and glove to try to make boundary-bound pitches look like strikes . Framing has become a critical skill for catchers, and there was concern that a complete system would make some defensive catchers obsolete.

Not everyone loves it.

“The idea that people are paid to cheat, to steal strikes , to move a non -strike pitch into the zone to fool the official into making it a strike is beyond me,” manager Bobby Valentine said.

Latin Press

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, p. a12

Havana. Cuba remains confident of participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March 5-17, 2026, despite not yet receiving a license from the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

During a press conference in the Adolfo Luque Hall of the Latinoamericano Stadium, the president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCBS), Juan Reinaldo Pérez, expressed that "we are optimistic and hope to receive permission to attend the tournament, as has happened in the five previous editions."

The executive added that they are already working on pre-selecting players, including those who live outside the country and others of Cuban descent born abroad who are interested in wearing the island's uniform.

He also clarified that without OFAC authorization, they cannot conduct any official business with Major League Baseball, an organization that requires this approval to engage with Cuba due to the current economic embargo regulations.

A few days ago, the FCBS issued a protest note denouncing that, unlike the rest of the qualifiers, Cuba had not been invited to submit the preliminary roster of 50 players, a process that began on September 1.

According to the statement, the tournament organizers acknowledge having requested permission from Washington well in advance, but the response remains pending. The statement describes the situation as an "unjustified delay that creates uncertainty and affects the technical process of compiling the roster" and denounces the United States' restrictions as "contrary to the spirit of sport."

The federation emphasized that Cuban baseball players earned their right to participate in the Classic on the field, and reaffirmed that Cuba is not asking for privileges, but rather for equal conditions.

Although in previous editions, such as 2006 and 2023, the license was granted just months before the tournament's start, the current political climate between Havana and Washington adds uncertainty. Specialized media have reported that the organizers of the Clásico are even considering an alternative plan if the authorization doesn't arrive in time.

▲ Mexican Paralympian Jesús Gutiérrez (pictured) won the silver medal in the 200m individual medley SM6 final, setting a record for the Americas, clocking 2:37.06 minutes, on the third day of competition at the Singapore 2025 World Para Swimming Championships. Ángel Camacho, a multi-medallist at Paris 2024, claimed his second bronze medal after finishing third in the 150m individual medley SM4, clocking 2:37.65 minutes. Photo: Conade

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