Eric Cantona calls for boycott of Israeli football at Together for Palestine
- Text by Isaac Muk
- Photography by Burak Cingi
More than sport — The legendary striker took to the stage at Brian Eno’s benefit concert at Wembley, which raised around £1.5 million for Palestinian charities working on the ground in Gaza.
French footballing legend Eric Cantona has called for a sporting boycott of Israel in football.
The former Manchester United forward took to the stage at Together for Palestine last night (September 18) – a huge benefit concert at Wembley Arena headed up by Brian Eno.
He was introduced by Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, who went on hunger strike for three months after being imprisoned by Israel in 2012 without trial. Sarsak was a friend and teammate of ‘Palestinian Pelé’ Suleiman Obeid, who was killed in Gaza during an August Israeli attack on people waiting for humanitarian aid, according to the Palestine Football Association.
Cantona said: “I have played for France and Manchester United. I know that international football is more than just sport.
“It’s culture, it’s political, it’s soft power, in the way that a country represents itself on the global stage,” he continued. “The time has come to suspend Israel from that privilege. Four days after Russia started a war in Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia.
“We are now 716 days into what Amnesty International have called a genocide, yet Israel have continued to be allowed to participate. Why is there double standards? FIFA and UEFA must suspend Israel. Clubs everywhere must refuse to play Israeli teams. Current players everywhere must refuse to play against Israeli teams.
“We all remember apartheid in South Africa. The sporting boycott was critical in ending it. We have power. You have power. And football fans around the world have power.”
Cantona has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and the ending of war in Gaza. On October 17, 2023, he wrote an Instagram post that said: “Defending the human rights of Palestinians does not mean you are pro-Hamas. Saying ‘Free Palestine’ does not mean you are anti-Semitic or ‘want all the Jews gone.’
“‘Free Palestine’ means free Palestinians from the Israeli occupation that’s been robbing [of] their basic human rights for 75 years.”
Together 4 Palestine saw a huge line-up of artists, activists and cultural figures perform and speak at Wembley Arena, including Damon Albarn, Omar Souleyman, Elyanna, Saint Levant, Greentea Peng, King Krule, Obongjayar, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, Riz Ahmed, Mehdi Hasan, PinkPantheress and more.
The benefit concert raised just under £1.5 million for humanitarian aid charity Choose Love, who will distribute all of the funds to Palestinian charities Taawon, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.
Isaac Muk is Huck’s digital editor. Follow him on Bluesky.
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