Calls to exclude Israel from international sports and cultural events have grown louder in recent weeks, as the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to spark global outrage and protest. The backlash, which has spilled over from political debate into the arenas of athletics and entertainment, is drawing comparisons to the international isolation faced by Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In Spain, the Vuelta cycling race was disrupted in September 2025 by demonstrators protesting the participation of an Israeli team. According to the Associated Press, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez quickly aligned himself with the protesters, declaring it was time to boycott Israel from international sports events until what he called the “barbarity” in Gaza ends. Sánchez openly questioned, “Why shouldn’t Israel be expelled from sports just like Russia?”
The Spanish leader’s comments have resonated across Europe, prompting Spain’s public broadcaster and three other European countries to threaten withdrawal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to compete. Eurovision, a competition with a massive following in Israel and throughout Europe, has now become a stage for this growing movement. Earlier this month, Hollywood also entered the fray, with filmmakers, actors, and other industry figures signing a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions, including festivals, broadcasters, and production companies.
Despite these high-profile protests, Israel has not faced the kind of sweeping bans imposed on Russia. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA, the world’s soccer governing body, have both stated that the legal reasons for acting against Russia do not apply in Israel’s case, though neither has provided detailed explanations. Christophe Dubi, the IOC’s executive director for Olympic Games, told reporters in Milan, “This is different.” The IOC has asserted that Israel has not breached the Olympic charter as Russia did when it annexed territories in eastern Ukraine.
Israel’s reaction to Sánchez’s call for a boycott was swift and fierce. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeled the Spanish leader “an antisemite and a liar,” as reported by the Associated Press. With Israel’s culture and sports ministry declining to comment further, the country has largely dug in its heels, maintaining its stance amid mounting international criticism over its military campaign—a campaign launched in response to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants.
While the IOC and FIFA have thus far resisted calls to bar Israel, the debate is far from settled. The most significant precedent for such exclusion remains Apartheid-era South Africa, which was barred from the Olympics after 1960 and only readmitted in 1992, following Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. Russia, on the other hand, was swiftly blacklisted by most sports federations after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with its athletes competing under a neutral flag at the Paris Olympics.
Spain’s stance is especially notable given its status as a major soccer power and co-host of the 2030 World Cup. The country is also set to host an NFL game in October 2025 and the opening stage of the 2026 Tour de France. Antoine Duval, a researcher at the Netherlands-based Asser Institute, told the Associated Press, “Until now we haven’t seen this type of outrage against Israeli action in Gaza. I think this tide is turning now.”
However, no other world leader has so far echoed Sánchez’s call for Israel’s exclusion. In the United Kingdom, a Birmingham-based lawmaker urged UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, to “urgently cancel” Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for November 6, 2025, “to ensure public safety and community harmony.” UEFA has given no indication it will comply.
European sports federations have voiced frustration at being forced to play Israeli teams, but many say they have no choice as long as Israel remains in good standing with international governing bodies. John Feehan, chief executive of Basketball Ireland, remarked last month regarding an upcoming Women’s Eurobasket qualifying game, “Facing Israel in these circumstances is not a scenario we would wish. But there has been no change in Israel’s status within sport.” Feehan warned that refusing to play could result in sanctions, which “would be hugely damaging to the sport here.”
Similar sentiments have been expressed in men’s soccer, where Italy and Norway are set to host Israel in World Cup qualifying matches on October 14 and October 11, respectively. Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina acknowledged the sensitivity of Italian public opinion regarding the match, but pointed out that refusing to play would result in a 3-0 forfeit loss under FIFA rules. “Not playing also means clearly saying we’re not going to the World Cup, we have to be aware of that,” Gravina said, adding that a boycott could inadvertently benefit Israel’s path to the finals.
Norway, meanwhile, announced it would donate all profits from ticket sales for its October 11 match against Israel to Doctors Without Borders for humanitarian work in Gaza—a symbolic gesture reflecting the country’s discomfort with the situation.
Protests have not been confined to official statements or policy debates. When the Israel men’s national basketball team played in Katowice, Poland, in August 2025, fans loudly booed the Israeli national anthem. Demonstrations also took place outside the arena. In the world of soccer, political banners have become a fixture. During the Champions League final in May 2025, Paris Saint-Germain fans unfurled a “Stop Genocide In Gaza” banner in French. At the UEFA Super Cup in August, banners reading “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians” were displayed on the field in front of PSG and Tottenham players. UEFA, despite having rules against political messaging, did not open disciplinary cases in either instance.
The backlash has extended beyond Europe. In September 2025, Canada hosted Israel in the Davis Cup behind closed doors in Halifax, Nova Scotia, citing “escalating safety concerns” after hundreds of Canadian athletes and academics called for Tennis Canada to cancel the matches due to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Elsewhere, Indonesia’s stance toward Israel has shifted. In 2023, Indonesia lost its hosting rights for the men’s Under-20 World Cup after refusing to allow Israel to play. Yet by July 2025, Israeli media reported that Indonesia had invited Israel’s gymnastics federation to the world championships in Jakarta. Indonesia is also in talks with the IOC to host the 2036 Summer Games, signaling a possible softening of its previous hardline position.
As the world watches, the intersection of sports, culture, and geopolitics continues to evolve. The wave of protests, boycotts, and symbolic gestures reflects a growing frustration with the status quo and a demand for accountability. Whether these efforts will lead to Israel’s exclusion from global events remains uncertain, but the debate has undeniably entered a new and more public phase.
For now, federations, athletes, and fans alike are left to navigate a landscape where the boundaries between competition and conscience have never been more blurred.
