Israel
Israel’s Football Association could be banned by FIFA this week
The global football governing body is investigating a request made by the Palestinian Football Association in March
August 29, 2024 13:15
The global football governing body is investigating a request made by the Palestinian Football Association in March
August 29, 2024 13:15Just a month ago Israel’s national football team starred in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but now the country is facing a potential ban from the world renowned sport.
The global football governing body FIFA is currently investigating a request by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to temporarily ban the Israel Football Association (IFA) from future tournaments with the decision set to be made by Saturday.
PFA officials allege that Israel is committing violations of both international law and FIFA’s human rights policies, in the war in Gaza.
Israel has denied the accusations of the PFA’s claim to which IFA chief Moshe Zuares called a “cynical, political and hostile attempt by the Palestinian Association to harm Israeli football.”
During the FIFA annual congress in Bangkok in May Zuares said: “Make no mistake, the IFA never violated rules set by FIFA and UEFA and will never do so in the future.”
The PFA first submitted its official proposal in March, but FIFA has postponed the ruling multiple times including days before the Olympics.
If imposed, the ban would immediately impact Israel’s national team, which is slated to compete in the upcoming Nations League tournament organised by UEFA, the European division of FIFA.
Israel is scheduled to play against Belgium on September 6, but due to security concerns, Belgium refused to host the match. Consequently, the game will now take place in Debrecen, Hungary.
Should the ban be extended, Israel might also miss out on the qualifying rounds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting in March as well as other upcoming European and global tournaments.
Israel has been a member of UEFA since 1994, joining the European conference two decades after being expelled from the Asian Football Confederation, a move led by its Arab neighbours. The Asian conference, along with soccer federations from Algeria, Jordan, Syria, and Yemen, have all backed the PFA’s initiative to remove Israel.
According to Reuters, PFA President Jibril Rajoub said: “FIFA cannot afford to remain indifferent to these violations or to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, just as it did not remain indifferent to numerous precedents.”
In May Rajoub also said 193 Palestinian players had been killed in the Israel-Hamas war and pointed to other disruptions to Palestinian football as a result of the ongoing conflict.
“Like everyone, I was extremely, extremely shocked by what happened on Oct. 7 in Israel,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at the group’s convening in May.
He added: “And like anyone else, I was extremely, extremely shocked, and am extremely shocked at what’s happening in Gaza. I pray for all those people who suffer the unimaginable … and I want, like all of you, just one thing: peace.”