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Advocacy Groups Call for European Ban on Israel Team, Players in Times Square Billboard

A billboard in Times Square displays the message "Israel is committing genocide" as part of the campaign by Game Over Israel calling for a boycott of Israel by national soccer federations over the war in Gaza, in New York City, US, September 16, 2025. (Reuters) 
A billboard in Times Square displays the message "Israel is committing genocide" as part of the campaign by Game Over Israel calling for a boycott of Israel by national soccer federations over the war in Gaza, in New York City, US, September 16, 2025. (Reuters) 
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Advocacy Groups Call for European Ban on Israel Team, Players in Times Square Billboard

A billboard in Times Square displays the message "Israel is committing genocide" as part of the campaign by Game Over Israel calling for a boycott of Israel by national soccer federations over the war in Gaza, in New York City, US, September 16, 2025. (Reuters) 
A billboard in Times Square displays the message "Israel is committing genocide" as part of the campaign by Game Over Israel calling for a boycott of Israel by national soccer federations over the war in Gaza, in New York City, US, September 16, 2025. (Reuters) 

A coalition of advocacy organizations and fan groups called on European football federations to boycott Israel in a Times Square billboard that went live on Tuesday, kicking off the #GameOverIsrael campaign months ahead of the World Cup.

The billboard went up on Tuesday in New York, which is set to host eight matches in the World Cup next year, including the final. Canada and Mexico are co-hosting the quadrennial international competition with the United States.

The campaign calls on football federations in Belgium, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Scotland, and Spain to boycott the Israel national team and ban Israeli players from domestic competitions, citing the ongoing attacks in Gaza.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach FIFA, UEFA and the Israel Football Association for comment.

"As the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Americans must not allow our stadiums to become platforms for whitewashing war crimes," said American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee National Executive Director Abed Ayoub in a statement.

The ADC launched the #GameOverIsrael initiative with several European partners.

"We stand with our European counterparts and demand that every football governing body take immediate and decisive action to bar Israel from international competition," said Ayoub. "The world must tell Israel that the game is over, and there is no room in sports for war criminals."

A United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded on Tuesday that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Israeli officials rejected the findings of the report, with Israel's ambassador to the United Nations calling it "scandalous" and "fake".

The billboard, which was located near the intersection of Broadway and West 43rd Street, contains the word “genocide,” which ADC said was only approved by the billboard company after it saw the text of the UN commission’s report.

Israel are currently third in the table in their World Cup qualifying Group I, behind Norway and Italy. The winners of UEFA's 12 qualifying groups gain direct entry to the World Cup while the runners-up go into the playoffs.

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FIFA President Infantino Condemns "Unacceptable Scenes" In AFCON Final

Senegal fans celebrate in Turin, Italy Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, after Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match against Morocco. (Giulio Lapone/LaPresse via AP)
Senegal fans celebrate in Turin, Italy Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, after Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match against Morocco. (Giulio Lapone/LaPresse via AP)
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FIFA President Infantino Condemns "Unacceptable Scenes" In AFCON Final

Senegal fans celebrate in Turin, Italy Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, after Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match against Morocco. (Giulio Lapone/LaPresse via AP)
Senegal fans celebrate in Turin, Italy Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, after Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match against Morocco. (Giulio Lapone/LaPresse via AP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned "some Senegal players" for the "unacceptable scenes" during Sunday's AFCON final in which the eventual champions walked off the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco.

"We strongly condemn the behavior of some 'supporters' as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner," said Infantino in a statement sent to AFP.

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Senegal Stun Hosts Morocco to Win AFCON Title after Ugly Scenes Mar Final

Morocco's forward #10 Brahim Diaz kicks the ball to miss a penalty in the nets of Senegal's goalkeeper #16 Edouard Mendy during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Morocco's forward #10 Brahim Diaz kicks the ball to miss a penalty in the nets of Senegal's goalkeeper #16 Edouard Mendy during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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Senegal Stun Hosts Morocco to Win AFCON Title after Ugly Scenes Mar Final

Morocco's forward #10 Brahim Diaz kicks the ball to miss a penalty in the nets of Senegal's goalkeeper #16 Edouard Mendy during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Morocco's forward #10 Brahim Diaz kicks the ball to miss a penalty in the nets of Senegal's goalkeeper #16 Edouard Mendy during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Senegal stunned Morocco in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final as Pape Gueye's goal gave them a 1-0 extra-time win over the hosts at the end of a match marred by disgraceful scenes following a controversial penalty award.

Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco when he stepped up to take the spot-kick in the 24th added minute at the end of normal time, said AFP.

But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay of almost 20 minutes that followed the penalty award.

Congolese match referee Jean-Jacques Ndala gave the penalty right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes following a VAR check for a challenge on Diaz in the box by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Diaz, the rest of the Moroccan team and their bench vehemently protested to the referee to check the images, but the decision to eventually give the spot-kick was met with fury by Senegal and their fans.

As most of their players walked off the pitch, some Senegal supporters in the small section of away fans at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play.

They were eventually contained by a large barrier of police and stewards, and their anger turned to delight and disbelief when the penalty was saved.

The Senegal team had initially been riled by the referee's decision to disallow for a foul a goal they scored in the second added minute when Abdoulaye Seck headed off the post at a corner and Ismaila Sarr nodded in the rebound.

After Diaz's penalty miss, however, it felt almost inevitable that a galvanized Senegal would go on to score, and they did so in the fourth minute of extra time to stun the home fans in the crowd of 66,526 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Gueye the hero

Sadio Mane won possession in midfield and found Idrissa Gana Gueye, who released his namesake Pape Gueye.

The Villarreal midfielder held off the backtracking Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi as he advanced towards the box before beating goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with a superb strike into the top corner.

Morocco were distraught, in particular Diaz who was promptly substituted.

They could still have forced a penalty shoot-out, with Nayef Aguerd heading against the crossbar in the second half of extra time.

But it was not to be for the hosts, who had been dreaming of winning the title in front of their own fans to end a 50-year wait to become African champions for just the second time.

Senegal could have been more comfortable had Cherif Ndiaye not squandered a glorious chance to make it 2-0 late in the extra period, but they held on.

It is their second Cup of Nations title in the last three editions, after they defeated Egypt on penalties in Yaounde in 2022 to win the trophy for the first time in their history.

They can now look forward to heading to the United States for the World Cup in June, and will hope to persuade star man Mane to play at another AFCON after he declared that the final would be his last ever game at the tournament.

Any investigation into the disgraceful scenes during the game will focus on the conduct of the Senegal team and their fans as well as any shortcomings by Moroccan organizers.

The incidents came at the end of a tense final which had been low on goalmouth action -- not exactly surprising given the defensive strength of Africa's best teams according to the FIFA rankings.

Senegal's Iliman Ndiaye was denied by Bounou when clean through with the best chance in the first half, while Morocco should have scored just before the hour mark but Ayoub El Kaabi prodded wide from a Bilal El Khannouss cross.

Then came the late drama, with Senegal surviving the penalty award before Gueye became their hero -- remarkably that was the first goal scored by the Lions of Teranga in an AFCON final after they had failed to find the net in any of their three previous appearances in the tournament's deciding game.

It was an agonizing way for Morocco's campaign to end, and many of their fans had left the stadium before the final whistle on a cold and wet night in Rabat.

Sports

Sonmez Becomes Fan Favorite in Melbourne After Coming to Aid of Ball Girl

Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Sonmez Becomes Fan Favorite in Melbourne After Coming to Aid of Ball Girl

Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

Zeynep Sonmez earned a place in fans' hearts as well as the second round at the Australian Open on Sunday when the Turkish qualifier rushed to the aid of a ball girl who had fainted in the punishing Melbourne heat.

The world number 112 was locked in battle with ‌11th seed ‌Ekaterina Alexandrova and waiting ‌to ⁠receive serve ‌in the second set when the girl, who was positioned beside the chair umpire, suddenly wobbled and fell on her back.

The girl picked herself up but stumbled again moments later, prompting ⁠23-year-old Sonmez to stop play and run towards ‌her.

With the crowd applauding, ‍Sonmez put the ‍girl's arm over her shoulder and ‍guided her to a seat so medical staff could provide treatment.

Sonmez went on to lose the set but she was able to secure a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win and become the ⁠first woman from Türkiye to reach the second round of the Melbourne Park Grand Slam.

Her victory comes on the back of a 2025 season in which she reached the third round at Wimbledon, marking the best Grand Slam result in the professional era for a Turkish woman.

She also reached the ‌second round of the US Open.