FIFA Seeks Legal Advice on Palestinian Proposal to Suspend Israel from Soccer

FIFA Seeks Legal Advice on Palestinian Proposal to Suspend Israel from International Soccer

In a bid to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, FIFA has decided to seek legal advice before making a decision on a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer. The decision was made during an extraordinary council meeting in Bangkok, where FIFA president Gianni Infantino outlined the plan to member federations.

Infantino stated that independent legal expertise will be sought to analyze and assess the requests made by the Palestinian Football Association. The goal is to ensure that FIFA’s statutes and regulations are applied correctly to guarantee a fair and due process. The results of the legal assessment will be forwarded to the FIFA council, which will convene before July 20 to review the recommendations and make appropriate decisions.

The Palestinian soccer federation has raised concerns about various issues with Israel over the past decade, including travel restrictions on players, the inclusion of teams from West Bank settlements in the Israeli league, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite multiple appearances at FIFA Congress meetings, the Palestinian soccer federation has not seen the progress it desires.

The proposal put forth by the Palestine Football Association calls for immediate sanctions against Israeli teams, citing violations of international law in Palestine, particularly in Gaza. The motion emphasizes FIFA’s commitments to human rights and against discrimination. Palestinian soccer’s leader, Jibril Rajoub, highlighted the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the Palestinian people, including the deaths of footballers in the ongoing conflict.

While Rajoub urged FIFA delegates not to delay the vote on the proposal, Infantino emphasized the need for the matter to be addressed by FIFA’s governing council rather than put to a full vote of the membership. He stressed the importance of applying FIFA’s statutes and regulations impartially, regardless of personal convictions on global issues.

The meeting also addressed the suspension of Russian national and club teams from international competitions following the invasion of Ukraine. FIFA and UEFA argued against further suspensions, citing potential chaos in competitions. Israel, a member of UEFA since 1994, has not faced refusals from European federations to play its teams.

As the situation unfolds, FIFA continues to navigate the complexities of politics and sports, striving to uphold the principles of unity and solidarity in the world of soccer.