

Should Israel be banned from international sport events?
Sep 29, 2025
In this thought-provoking discussion, Ashish Prashar, a political strategist behind the Game Over Israel campaign, advocates for banning Israel from global sports amid ongoing conflict. Dan Perry, a former AP editor, cautions against politicizing sports, arguing that such boycotts might backfire. Andrew Feinstein, an anti-apartheid activist, draws parallels to South Africa's sports isolation. The trio debates the effectiveness of these measures and whether they could truly shift policies or public opinion, with nuanced perspectives on the implications for both athletes and governments.
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Sport As Complicity
- Ashish Prashar argues Israel should be removed from football and other international sports due to alleged genocide and apartheid.
- He claims normalising sport participation equals complicity and demands federations act to end that normalcy.
Boycotts Can Backfire Politically
- Dan Perry warns mixing sports and politics can backfire and hurt constituencies that oppose their governments.
- He fears bans could strengthen Hamas politically and undermine delicate peace proposals.
South Africa Sports Boycott Example
- Andrew Feinstein recounts how sports boycotts isolated white South Africans and pressured the apartheid regime.
- He credits sports bans as crucial to ending apartheid and shifting public perception in South Africa.