The Peoples Football Match vs racist war and FIFA

Seattle

The Peoples Football Match was held outside FIFA’s Seattle Stadium on June 26 as Egypt and Iran played inside. The Peoples Match demanded solidarity with the courageous peoples of Iran, Palestine and Lebanon. Their war-torn countries are resisting U.S. and Israeli aggression.

The Hands Off Iran Coalition, Bilal Seattle and many other organizations set up early and marked off a spot for a court-sized match among the heavy crowds. The Peoples Match was bordered by many resistance, liberation and antiwar banners.

Leaflets were passed out to the thousands of fans passing by and the many who stopped to watch as the Fedayeen of Palestine squared off in 3 on 3 games against many informal groups of people in the crowd, including Mexicans and Italians.

The Hands Off Iran Coalition leaflet read: “We deserve better than for our love of football and pride for our national teams to be co-opted by the billionaire class to wash away genocidal crimes of the U.S. and Israel! 

“While Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure U.S. and Israeli genocide and to survive without basic food, water and education, FIFA plans to construct on top of the rubble in Gaza: 50 minipitches, five full-sized pitches, a FIFA Academy and a 20,000-seat national stadium, aiming to raise $75 million for the projects. 

“FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), [FIFA President] Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace are partners in crime.“

 The leaflet listed the crimes for which the U.S. and Israel will be held accountable in the future: “Israel has killed at least 437 soccer players in Gaza. Israel has destroyed over 288 sports facilities in the West Bank and Gaza. As a result of Zionist genocide and agression against Palestinian athletes, Palestinians in Gaza have organized amputee football leagues.”

The flyer also calls out FIFA for being complicit in crimes in the West Bank. FIFA allows illegal Israeli settlement clubs in the West Bank to play in FIFA structures, which legitimizes and promotes the Israeli occupation.

The demonstrators continually chanted “Viva Palestina!” and “Kick Israel out of FIFA!” as they demanded an end to genocide and the rule of the corporations and billionaires against the people of West Asia.