The German government has voiced its opposition to barring Israeli participation in international sporting events, particularly within the realm of football. Christiane Schenderlein, State Minister for Sport and Volunteering at the Federal Chancellery, emphasized the potential detrimental impact such a measure would have on the integrity of sport.
Speaking to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, Schenderlein stated her firm belief that sporting competitions should remain separate from political disputes and crises. While acknowledging the increasing pressure and calls for exclusion being raised within international bodies like UEFA and FIFA, she maintained that the playing field should not be utilized as a platform for political action.
Schenderlein recognized the inherent link between sport and societal values and validated the need for ongoing dialogue and examination of those values. However, she cautioned against allowing politically motivated exclusions, asserting they could fundamentally damage the sporting community.
The calls for Israel’s exclusion have intensified recently, following a request from several experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. These experts cited the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding with hundreds of thousands displaced and at risk of famine, as justification for potential sanctions.
The Turkish Football Association was the first UEFA member to publicly demand Israel’s suspension from international competitions. Association President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu, in a letter to UEFA and FIFA, characterized the situation in Gaza as “unbearable and unacceptable”, urging immediate action from the governing bodies.