Overview

• The AIAC sent a formal letter to FIGC president Gabriele Gravina requesting that he press UEFA and FIFA for Israel’s temporary suspension over the Gaza war.
• The association’s board voted unanimously to issue the appeal and says it reflects widespread sentiment among its roughly 18,000 coaches and technical staff, though it did not poll every member.
• Italy is slated to face Israel on Sept. 8 in Debrecen, Hungary, and on Oct. 14 in Udine, following a 2024 Udine meeting that drew protests and heavy security, including rooftop snipers.
• UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin recently said he opposes athlete bans in principle and that Israel is currently allowed to compete, while FIFA has previously delayed rulings on suspension bids.
• The AIAC framed the request as a moral imperative tied to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with AP reporting the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 62,000 and the UN warning of extreme hunger.