Context:

An antisemitism watchdog has urged FIFA and the World Cup 2026 Task Force, led by President Trump, to address the 'Show Israel the Red Card' campaign that calls for punitive actions against Israel's soccer team. This campaign began during a UEFA Champions League match in Scotland and has since spread to multiple countries without any penalties imposed on the participating fans. Liora Rez, founder of StopAntisemitism, criticized FIFA for its inaction and called for a proactive stance against such campaigns, emphasizing the need for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to publicly denounce the bias against Israel. The Trump administration has established a task force with Andrew Giuliani as executive director and Carlos Cordeiro as a senior advisor to support upcoming FIFA events in North America. Rez hopes the task force will collaborate with Infantino to prevent antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric from gaining traction in the United States during these tournaments.

Dive Deeper:

• Liora Rez, founder of StopAntisemitism, has called on FIFA and Trump's World Cup 2026 Task Force to intervene in the 'Show Israel the Red Card' campaign, which urges action against Israel's national soccer team due to geopolitical tensions.

• The campaign surfaced during a UEFA Champions League match in Scotland, where Celtic FC fans displayed a banner against Israel, and it has since spread to countries like Italy, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, and Tunisia without any official repercussions.

• Rez highlights FIFA's lack of response to the campaign as alarming, pointing out the absence of penalties for fans and urging the task force to take preemptive measures against such expressions in the United States.

• Despite demands for action, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has not publicly addressed the campaign, prompting Rez to call for a strong stance against antisemitism and bias within FIFA's leadership.

• President Trump's task force, chaired by Trump with Vice President JD Vance and executive director Andrew Giuliani, is tasked with managing preparations for FIFA events, including the 2025 Club World Cup and 2026 World Cup.

• Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to FIFA, has been appointed as a senior advisor on the task force, indicating a coordinated effort to support the successful hosting of these international soccer events in North America.

• Rez hopes for collaboration between Giuliani and Infantino to make a clear statement against antisemitic and anti-Western sentiments, ensuring they are not welcomed in the US during these sporting events.