FIFA delays decision on Palestinian request to ban Israel amid Gaza war
Al Jazeera
Governing body to seek legal advice after calls for Israel’s ‘immediate’ suspension from international football.
Football’s world governing body FIFA has said it will seek legal advice before convening in July to decide on a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international matches.
On Friday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the plan at the organisation’s annual congress in Bangkok, Thailand, after the Palestine Football Association (PFA) presented arguments accusing the Israel Football Association (IFA) of violating FIFA statutes with its war on Gaza and its inclusion of teams located in Palestinian territory in its domestic league.
“I ask you to stand on the right side of history … If not now, when?” said PFA President Jibril Rajoub, speaking before delegates from 211 member associations. “FIFA cannot afford to remain indifferent to these violations or the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”
Infantino said FIFA “will mandate as of now, independent legal expertise to analyse the three requests [from the PFA] and ensure the statutes of FIFA are applied in the right way”, with an extraordinary council meeting scheduled to be held by July 25.
Israel called the ban call “cynical”.
