A Palestinian youth organization has urgently petitioned FIFA leadership to prevent the imminent demolition of a crucial football facility in the occupied West Bank. The Aida Youth Centre, located near Bethlehem’s separation wall, received official notification from Israeli authorities on December 31st that their artificial turf pitch would be destroyed within seven days.
This sporting facility, installed in 2021 on land owned by the Armenian Church within the Aida refugee camp, serves as the sole recreational space for approximately 2,500 children residing in one of the region’s most densely populated areas. The pitch functions as both a training ground for the center’s football academy and a rare sanctuary for youth living amidst military checkpoints, watchtowers, and constant security operations.
The center’s board director, Munther Amira, articulated in a January 6th letter addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis that the demolition constitutes “a clear and callous attempt to deprive Palestinians of a facility critical to their physical and mental welfare.” The communication emphasized the pitch’s role as “a rare place of hope and joy for children who endure severe hardship.”
Notably, the facility has demonstrated significant impact on women’s football development, with three former academy players having represented Palestine at the West Asia Football Federation’s under-14 girls’ championship in December. Local authorities, including Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati, are pursuing diplomatic, legal, and sporting channels to halt the demolition, asserting that proper leasing agreements with the Armenian Patriarchate render the construction fully authorized.
The appeal emerges weeks after FIFA announced plans to construct two mini-pitches in the West Bank by 2026 through its FIFA Arena initiative, co-funded by the Swiss government with a commitment of approximately $150,000. The potential demolition creates a stark contradiction with FIFA’s stated mission of expanding football access in challenging regions.
Israeli military officials previously posted demolition notices in November, claiming the structure lacked proper permits—an assertion local authorities vehemently deny. For residents of the camp established in 1950 for Nakba refugees, the pitch represents more than sports infrastructure; it serves as psychological relief and one of the few safe spaces available to children growing up in what has been described as one of the world’s most heavily militarized civilian areas.