Palestinians ask FIFA to suspend Israel from competition

PA calls for changing the venue of football match, calling it a “dangerous precedent.”

By ALLON SINAI
Soccer [Illustrative] (photo credit: INIMAGE)
Soccer [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INIMAGE)
The Palestinian Football Association’s assault on Israel continues after it pre-submitted a resolution to the FIFA Congress, which will be held in May, demanding the suspension of the Israel Football Association.
PFA president Jibril Rajoub has long been calling for sanctions against Israel, claiming they are required due to the travel restrictions imposed by Israeli security forces on players and officials.
In large part due to Rajoub’s efforts, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the establishment of a task force in July 2013 aimed at improving the movement of players, coaches, referees, officials and equipment into, out of and within the Palestinian territories.
Blatter visited the region in September 2013 and the sides met again in Zurich at the start of last year, with both associations providing progress reports and according to a FIFA statement, “agreed on the fact that the new mechanism had improved communication between them while accelerating the decision- making process concerning the movement of football representatives.”
However, Rajoub seems far less content with the recent progress described by FIFA and has put forward a formal proposal that will need a two-thirds majority to pass in May’s congress in Zurich.
“The PFA has supported initiatives by FIFA over the last almost two years,” read a PFA statement on Monday. “Regrettably, the PFA’s attempts to work with the FIFA Task Force have been undermined by Israel and have come to naught. As a result, strong pressure in the form of suspension of the IFA is needed to help bring about the necessary change.”