FIFA president Infantino says Gaza suffering leaves him in tears

NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that the suffering of children and mothers in Gaza and other conflict zones moves him to tears, calling for world leaders to pursue peace.

“We all know that we live, sadly, in a divided world, in an aggressive world, in a complicated world. And like all of you, I suffer when I see children suffer. I cry when I see mothers crying, whether it is in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Sudan, in Libya, anywhere in the world,” Infantino said at an event in New York.

He noted that conflicts are raging in about 80 countries and stressed the need to keep faith in humanity. “Like many of you as well, I believe that human beings are fundamentally good and not fundamentally bad. And we have to believe in us. And, dear leaders, we believe in you. We need peace in the world,” the FIFA chief said.

His remarks came as UN experts urged FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israel’s national football team from international competitions, describing it as a “necessary response” to the ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory.

They cited the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry, which concluded that Israel is committing genocide, joining what they called a growing number of international bodies affirming the same. The experts also pointed to the International Court of Justice’s interim order from Jan. 26, 2024, which reminded all states of their legal duty to act against genocide.

“Sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual,” the experts said, stressing that global sporting bodies should not ignore grave human rights violations.

They clarified the call targets the state of Israel, not individual athletes, adding: “We have always maintained that individuals cannot bear the consequences of the decisions their government makes.”

The experts further urged FIFA to end its role in legitimizing Israel’s “unlawful presence” in occupied Palestinian territory, insisting: “There is a legal and moral imperative to take every measure possible to end the genocide in Gaza now.”