London, England – Eric Cantona, the collared king of Manchester United who once kung-fu kicked a fan into legend, has declared all-out war on football’s governing bodies. At Friday’s Together for Palestine benefit concert at Wembley Arena – a sold-out rally with 15,000 voices chanting for justice – the 59-year-old French icon roared: “Football has nothing to do with politics? Bullsh*t! Pause Israel or kill the soul of football. FIFA’s blood-stained ethics exposed!”
Cantona didn’t stop at rhetoric. He eviscerated FIFA and UEFA’s “hypocrisy,” spotlighting Russia’s lightning ban – suspended just 96 hours after invading Ukraine in February 2022, barring clubs and national teams from all competitions. Israel? “Destroys Gaza – over 68,000 dead since October 2023, mostly women and children – and still playing?” He demanded an immediate boycott: “Clubs refuse to play Israeli teams. Players walk off. Truth or a dead game!” The crowd thundered approval; the clip surged to 12 million views on X overnight.
From Old Trafford icon to global rebel, Cantona’s fury echoes the anti-apartheid boycotts that toppled South Africa. “Russia out in four days for Ukraine. We’re 716 days into what Amnesty calls genocide, yet Maccabi Tel Aviv struts in Europa League, and Israel’s in World Cup qualifiers.” He slammed FIFA’s October 2024 deferral of Palestine’s ban plea – citing settlement teams and Gaza violations – and UEFA’s silence amid UN experts labeling it an “unfolding genocide.” “Double standards? It’s complicity,” Cantona thundered. “Suspend Israel now – or football’s just genocide with goals.”
X is a tinderbox. #CantonaWarCall hit 2.8 million posts, fans hailing “The King rises – boycott now!” while critics blasted “Ignores Hamas? One-sided rage.” Pro-Palestine ultras lit flares at Maccabi’s next tie; Amnesty International echoed the call Wednesday. FIFA’s Gianni Infantino? Mute. UEFA’s Ceferin dodged: “Sport unites.” But with Israel’s qualifiers resuming amid protests and Gaza’s toll climbing post-ceasefire , pressure mounts. Trump’s admin even lobbied to shield Israel from a 2026 World Cup ban.
Cantona, post-’96 Euros wizard and beach football pioneer, has long weaponized his voice against austerity and injustice. Now, this? A red card to soccer’s feigned neutrality. “Why the hypocrisy?” he asked the Wembley sea. One viral meme: His ’92 swivel goal, captioned “Turning on the suits – again.” From no-look passes to no-more-silence, Eric’s rebellion could spark walkouts worldwide. Football’s not neutral – it’s a mirror to power. Cantona’s forcing a reckoning. Who’s turning away?
