Overview

• In new interviews on September 3, Aleksander Ceferin said the Super Cup message was a humanitarian appeal rather than a political statement.
• He condemned “reckless politicians” and said the civilian toll in Gaza is “personally hurting, killing me.”
• He reiterated opposition to banning teams or athletes over government actions, noting such sanctions have not stopped wars and citing Russia’s ongoing exclusion since 2022.
• He contrasted intense political pressure over Russia with mainly civil-society pressure now, and recalled a 2023 attempt to reinstate Russian under-17 teams that collapsed under backlash.
• He said he has full support from the Israeli Football Federation; reporting indicates no imminent expulsion of Israeli clubs, while Russian teams remain barred from UEFA competitions.