The presidents of World Football Governing Body FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations UEFA are facing explosive allegations after a formal complaint was filed at the International Criminal Court ICC accusing them of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians.
The 120-page legal submission, delivered to the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in February 2026, names Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, and Aleksander Čeferin, president of UEFA, as individuals allegedly complicit in violations of international law through decisions made under their leadership.
Direct Allegations of Complicity
The complaint argues that FIFA and UEFA have knowingly enabled Israeli football clubs located in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories to compete in international and European competitions.
According to the filing, these settlements are widely regarded under international law as illegal, and any institutional support that helps sustain them could constitute participation in unlawful activity.
The complainants allege that by:
- Allowing settlement-based clubs to participate in competitions,
- Providing financial and structural backing through international football systems,
- And declining repeated calls to suspend the relevant national association,
Infantino and Čeferin have effectively assisted in normalising and sustaining settlement infrastructure, which the complaint characterises as part of broader alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians.
Among the accusations cited are:
- Aiding and abetting the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory,
- Contributing to discriminatory systems described in the filing as apartheid,
- Providing institutional legitimacy that allegedly reinforces unlawful territorial control.
Who Filed the Complaint?
The complaint was submitted by an international coalition including advocacy groups such as Irish Sport for Palestine, Scottish Sport for Palestine, Just Peace Advocates, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, and Sport Scholars for Justice in Palestine.
It is also backed by Palestinian footballers, sports clubs, landowners, and a Palestinian human rights organisation.
The coalition argues that sports bodies cannot claim neutrality while, in their view, materially supporting structures connected to alleged violations of international humanitarian law.
No Charges Yet But Legal Process Underway
Despite the severity of the accusations, no formal investigation or charges have been announced by the ICC at this stage.
Filing a complaint does not automatically trigger prosecution. The Prosecutor must first determine whether there is sufficient jurisdiction and evidence to open a formal investigation under the Rome Statute.
Legal experts note that the ICC prosecutes individuals not institutions which is why the complaint names Infantino and Čeferin personally in their leadership capacities rather than targeting FIFA or UEFA as organisations.
Silence and Response
As of publication, neither FIFA nor UEFA has announced that criminal proceedings have begun.
UEFA has previously described similar allegations as unsubstantiated and maintains that it is a sporting body, not a political authority.
FIFA has consistently stated in other contexts that it seeks to promote unity and peace through football rather than intervene directly in geopolitical disputes.
A Precedent-Setting Moment for Global Sport
If the ICC were to open an investigation, the case would mark one of the first times senior leaders of global sporting organisations faced scrutiny in connection with alleged international crimes linked to armed conflict.
Regardless of the court’s next steps, the complaint has intensified debate over whether international sports federations can remain neutral during conflicts involving allegations of grave human rights violations or whether continued participation and institutional support amount to complicity.