The government of President Mohamed Muizzu has faced condemnation after anti-Israel protestors were forced out of the National Stadium in Male' during a football match with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Infantino joined an exhibition match on Friday, where the FIFA President’s team faced off against a side led by Muizzu. The friendly yet competitive encounter ended with a 6–4 victory for Infantino’s FIFA team.
People carrying the Palestinian flag and anti-Israeli posters were among the spectators, but the Maldives Police Service forced those carrying the anti-Israeli posters to leave the stadium.
They were peacefully protesting against the FIFA President's decision not to ban Israel despite an ongoing genocide in Gaza against the Palestinian people. A video on social media shows police forcing them out of the stadium.
Speaking at the opening of the FIFA Council meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich earlier this month, Infantino said he remembered those who are suffering in different parts of the world and that the greatest thing the football world can do is promote unity and peace.
"FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems. But it can try to ensure human rights as part of its efforts to promote football," Infantino said.
Infantino arrived in Malé to a warm welcome and an agenda focused on elevating the standards and development of Maldivian football.
The last FIFA presidential visit to the Maldives was in 2006, when then-President Sepp Blatter visited the country as part of FIFA’s post-tsunami recovery assistance programme.
Infantino’s visit is part of his wider Asian tour, aimed at reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to football development and collaboration with regional associations.
