The International Football Federation (FIFA) will decide “in October” the Palestinian federation’s request to suspend the Israeli federation due, in particular, to the war in the Gaza Strip.
“An independent legal assessment has been carried out” on the Palestinian request, submitted in May during the 74thmy Congress of the football body in Bangkok, according to a brief press release from FIFA. “The evaluation report”whose content has not been made public, “It will now be transmitted to the Council of the fifa for your consideration, so that this matter can be duly addressed at the next meeting of the Council, scheduled for October”adds the organization.
During the Congress, FIFA President Gianni Infantino refused to put to a vote the sanctions demanded by the Palestinian federation (PFA) against its Israeli counterpart (IFA), considering that they should “to be administered” by the organization’s executive. In view of “the emergency” of the situation, however, had promised “an extraordinary Council” by July 20, but this deadline was pushed back over the summer, leaving “independent legal experts” FIFA gave them until the end of August to complete their report.
In May, PFA president Jibril Rajob urged FIFA to “being on the right side of history” voting for the immediate suspension of the IFA and referring several of its members to the disciplinary commission.
In a seven-page letter sent in mid-March, the PFA listed the direct consequences of the Israeli bombings in Gaza: “at least 92 footballers killed” and all sports infrastructure destroyed – but also stressed the absence of a serious fight against “discrimination and racism” anti-Palestinian racism claimed by some supporters of Beitar Jerusalem, as well as posts by Israeli leaders on social media supporting “Genocide in Gaza”.
Relocated parties
In response, IFA President Shino Moshe Zuares denounced in Bangkok a “cynical attempt” of “harming Israeli football”resting according to him “for reasons that have nothing to do with sport”.
“This is an extremely complicated political situation. I do not wish for anyone to experience this kind of tragedy.”he said, assuring that he wanted “reach” AND “Consider friendly matches” when “The atmosphere will have become calmer again”.
Israel will soon play in the Nations League, a competition of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It will face Belgium on September 6 in Debrecen, Hungary, as no Belgian city has wanted to host the match for security reasons in the tense context of the Middle East.
Israel will face Italy three days later in Budapest, a “home” match that has been postponed due to the war between the Hebrew State and Hamas. It will also be in the Hungarian capital where it will “host” the French team on October 10, in the third round of the Nations League.
