London, England – The King – Eric Cantona, the collared rebel who turned Manchester United into a dynasty and France into dreamers – has stormed off the pitch and straight into the firestorm. At Wednesday’s star-studded Together for Palestine benefit concert at Wembley Arena, the 59-year-old icon unleashed a thunderbolt that’s got FIFA and UEFA scrambling: “Football has nothing to do with politics? Bullsh*t! Suspend Israel now, you hypocrites!”
Cantona, flanked by celebs like Benedict Cumberbatch reciting Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, didn’t mince words. Drawing a razor-sharp line to Russia’s lightning-fast ban – suspended by UEFA and FIFA just four days after invading Ukraine in February 2022 – he slammed the governing bodies for letting Israel compete amid the Gaza war. “Russia out in four days for Ukraine. Israel? Plays on while Gaza burns – 68,872 dead since October 2023, mostly women and children.” Speak the truth on Palestine, or football’s just a sick joke!” The crowd of 15,000 erupted; the clip hit 12 million views overnight.
From Old Trafford icon to global rebel, Cantona’s call to boycott Israeli teams – national squad in World Cup qualifiers, Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League – echoes the anti-apartheid sports revolt that toppled South Africa. “Clubs everywhere must refuse to play them. Players, stand up! International football is culture, politics, soft power. Time to suspend Israel’s privilege,” he roared, chuckling bitterly at the “double standards.” It’s a gut-punch to FIFA, which deferred a Palestinian bid to ban Israel in October 2024 over settlement teams and Gaza violations , and UEFA, silent despite UN experts labeling Gaza an “unfolding genocide.”
X is ablaze. #CantonaVsFIFA surged to 2.8 million posts, fans hailing “The King speaks – bow down!” while critics fired: “Ignores Oct. 7 horrors? One-sided rant.” Pro-Palestine ultras chant his name; Jewish groups decry “failed context.” Amnesty International backed the boycott call Wednesday ; FIFA’s Gianni Infantino? Crickets.
Cantona, post-’96 Euros wizardry and kung-fu kick infamy, has long wielded his voice – beach football pioneer, anti-austerity firebrand. Now, this? A red card to soccer’s sacred neutrality. “Why the hypocrisy?” he pondered onstage. With Israel’s qualifiers resuming amid protests , and Gaza’s toll climbing post-ceasefire , the pressure’s volcanic. Will Maccabi’s next Europa tie spark walkouts? Or UEFA cave?
One viral meme: Cantona’s iconic ’92 swivel goal, captioned “King’s turning on the suits now.” From no-look passes to no-more-silence, Eric’s rebellion could rewrite the rules. Football’s not neutral – it’s a mirror. And Cantona’s holding it up. Who’s looking away?
