"FIFA is violating its own constitution." That's the accusation from Toronto activists who blanketed the city's official FIFA World Cup signage Friday morning with a "Kick Israel out of FIFA" banner — hours before Canada kicked off its first-ever home World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The demonstration was deliberate in its timing. With 45,000 fans descending on BMO Stadium — a ground temporarily expanded to that capacity through a $100 million city investment — the activists knew the eyes of the country would be on Toronto. They made sure the message was hard to miss.
The double standard argument
The core of their case is consistency. FIFA suspended Russia within days of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The activists argue that two and a half years into what they describe as a genocide in Gaza — plus Israeli military activity in Syrian territory — FIFA has taken no comparable action against the Israel Football Association.
"That demonstrates to us that FIFA is taking political positions even though it claims to be neutral," a spokesperson told Mirror US Sports. "So we are calling that out."
They also allege that Israeli league clubs have been permitted to play matches on occupied Palestinian and Syrian land, with some fixtures broadcast on FIFA's own official channel — a direct breach, they claim, of FIFA's own constitutional rules prohibiting games on occupied territory without permission. FIFA has not responded to the group's demands.
Rajoub still waiting for a U.S. visa
The protest lands alongside a separate, uncomfortable detail: Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, has not been granted a U.S. visa to attend the World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last year that everyone would be welcomed. On Wednesday, he walked that back — the organization, he said, has no control over government visa decisions.
Rajoub attended the tournament opener in Mexico City. Whether he gets into the United States at all remains unresolved.
FIFA's position — neutral institution, no authority over borders or politics — is being stress-tested from multiple directions at once. The activists aren't expecting a response. "They've just ignored us completely," the spokesperson said. "They haven't taken any meaningful action."
Canada's opening match goes ahead regardless. The politics don't pause for the whistle.
