President’s FIFA Match Is ‘Inappropriate’ Given Israel Stance, Says Fayyaz
Police officers remove “Ban Israel” boards from spectators inside the National Stadium during a match attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu | Photo: Viraasee via X
MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has criticised President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s participation in a football match with FIFA President Gianni Infantino held in Malé yesterday, stating that the event went against the sentiments of many Maldivians and the wider Muslim community.
In a message posted on X, Fayyaz said the decision to go ahead with the match was inappropriate at a time when Maldivians were calling for stronger expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. His remarks came after a man who displayed a board calling for Israel to be banned from FIFA was escorted out of Galolhu Stadium during the match. Several spectators at the stadium also voiced similar demands while the game was in progress.
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Fayyaz highlighted that FIFA had suspended Russia from international football five days after Russian forces entered Ukraine. He noted that more than two years have passed since Israel launched a major offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including footballers, yet no comparable action had been taken by football’s governing body.
ރަޝިއާ ސިފައިން ޔުކްރޭނަށް އެރިތާ 5 ދުވަސް ތެރޭ ފީފާއިން ރަޝިއާގެ ޤައުމީ ފުޓްބޯޅަ ޓީމު ސަސްޕެންޑްކުރި.
އިސްރޭލުން ގާޒާގައި ގަތުލުއާންމެއް ހިންގައި، ފަލަސްތީނުގެ ޤައުމީ ފުޓްބޯޅަ ޓީމުގެ ކުޅުންތެރިންނާއެކު އެތައްހާސް ބަޔަކު ޝަހީދުކޮށްފައިވާތީ، އިސްރޭލު ސަސްޕެންޑްކުރުމަށް މުޅި… https://t.co/tmsLhvMOY3— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) October 24, 2025
Earlier this month, during the opening of a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, Infantino stated that while people around the world were enduring severe hardship, FIFA’s role was to support unity and promote peace through the sport. “FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical problems. However, we can work to advance football and uphold human rights,” he said.
Infantino also said in an Instagram post that he met with Jibril Rajoub, the President of the Palestinian Football Association, amid continued criticism of FIFA over what some have described as inconsistent policies regarding Israel and Russia.
pic.twitter.com/9oAlWtoRhI— The President’s Office (@presidencymv) October 24, 2025
