Dr. Mahfoud Amara
For more than three weeks now, amidst the continuous bombing of the Gaza Strip with thousands killed and others still trapped under the rubble, sports leagues and international competitions have not been interrupted.
The show must go on for various reasons related to competition management and scheduling, as well as to meet the interests of numerous stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in the global sports business.
However, this situation may raise ethical concerns for some, giving the impression that sports spectacle is prioritized over other human tragedies.
Some would argue that there are ongoing tragedies in various parts of the world, and it would be challenging to suspend sports events every time.
For many around the world, the conflict in Gaza is viewed as yet another regional conflict. The framing of the Palestinian question does not help.
It moved from an Arab-Israeli conflict to a Palestine-Israeli conflict, and more recently, to a Gaza-Israel conflict.
On the contrary, some argue that maintaining sport, which is about peaceful competitions and confrontations under agreed-upon rules, is a way to celebrate humanity at its best.
This stands in opposition to the world outside the sports arena, which often operates under uneven rules dominated by power and military might.
Sports venues can and should be platforms to express human solidarity, beyond racial, ethnic, and religious divides.
However, as an Arab observer living in the Arab world, deeply connected to the just cause of Palestinians seeking justice and establishing their independent nation, and as a sports enthusiast, I cannot help but sense a double standard.
International sports organizations have swiftly expressed their unequivocal positions regarding the war in Ukraine, as well as their support for other causes such as #BlackLivesMatter and the #MeToo movement. Yet, they have largely refrained from addressing the enduring oppression, the dire situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and the suffering of Palestinian refugees, including the challenges faced by Palestinian athletes. There has been a reluctance to impose sanctions on Israel and address its consistent disregard for international laws.
Moreover, on the one hand, athletes who dare to express their solidarity with Palestine and the people of Gaza, like Nice’s Youcef Attal and Mainz’s El Ghazi, have faced suspensions by their clubs.
In the case of Karim Benzema, who expressed support for the people of Gaza in a social media post, he was accused of having connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is de facto linked to Hamas.
This led to calls for the withdrawal of his Ballon d’Or and even discussions about the possibility of him being stripped of his French citizenship. On the other hand, Football players who expressed their support for Israel did not face similar consequences from their employers.
The international sports community, including the International Olympic Committee, International Sport Federations, and corporate partners, must strive for greater consistency in their approach to various causes, upholding the shared values of sports and its capacity to unite people.
Dr. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management at Qatar University
Dr. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management at Qatar University.
