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Israel faces Fifa suspension after claims it discriminates against Palestinians Israel faces Fifa suspension over claims it discriminates against Palestinians
(about 3 hours later)
Israel is facing a vote to suspend it from world football’s governing body over claims that it discriminates against Palestinian footballers in the occupied territories.Israel is facing a vote to suspend it from world football’s governing body over claims that it discriminates against Palestinian footballers in the occupied territories.
The Palestinian Football Association said on Tuesday it is determined to push ahead with the vote on 29 May at the Fifa congress in Zürich, which could see Israel follow South Africa’s apartheid-era regime and Yugoslavia – the only countries to have been suspended by Fifa. The Palestinian Football Association said on Tuesday it was determined to push ahead with the vote on 29 May at the Fifa congress in Zurich, which could see Israel follow South Africa’s apartheid-era regime and Yugoslavia – the only countries to have been suspended by Fifa.
Related: Israeli football cannot continue as a vehicle to legitimise racism | Jibril RajoubRelated: Israeli football cannot continue as a vehicle to legitimise racism | Jibril Rajoub
On Tuesday, Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, said he believed the issue would go to a vote and that he expected Israel to be suspended.On Tuesday, Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, said he believed the issue would go to a vote and that he expected Israel to be suspended.
Suspension from Fifa is the most serious sanction the organisation can impose short of expulsion, and would see Israel’s teams banned from competing internationally.Suspension from Fifa is the most serious sanction the organisation can impose short of expulsion, and would see Israel’s teams banned from competing internationally.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter – who is seeking a compromise to head off the vote – arrived in Jerusalem on Tuesday for talks with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. Blatter has made no bones about his own opposition to the proposed vote, due to take place in 10 days, suggesting at a press conference that the motion was an abuse of Fifa statutes and “inappropriate”. The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter – who is seeking a compromise to head off the vote – arrived in Jerusalem on Tuesday for talks with the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Blatter has made no bones about his own opposition to the proposed vote, due to take place in 10 days, suggesting at a press conference that the motion was an abuse of Fifa statutes and “inappropriate”.
Speaking after his meeting with Netanyahu, Blatter said the prime minister had agreed to the proposal of a “peace match” between Israelis and Palestinians but would not go into details of what else was discussed.Speaking after his meeting with Netanyahu, Blatter said the prime minister had agreed to the proposal of a “peace match” between Israelis and Palestinians but would not go into details of what else was discussed.
Blatter admitted, however, that he had no authority to remove the motion from Fifa’s agenda – which Fifa officials say would require a two-thirds majority in the 209 member organisation to come into force. Blatter admitted, however, that he had no authority to remove the motion from Fifa’s agenda – which Fifa officials say would require a two-thirds majority in the 209-member organisation to come into force.
“This is a very unusual and very serious matter,” said Blatter. “After meeting in Zürich with the two presidents of the associations concerned, I took the decision that I wanted to meet not just with the football but with the political authorities in both of the countries. Today was first step.” “This is a very unusual and very serious matter,” said Blatter. “After meeting in Zurich with the two presidents of the associations concerned, I took the decision that I wanted to meet not just with the football but with the political authorities in both of the countries. Today was first step.”
The whole congress should raise the red card ... no​ one has said our demands are irrational or illegalThe whole congress should raise the red card ... no​ one has said our demands are irrational or illegal
Israel’s relationship with Palestinian football was defended by Ofer Eini, the president of the Israeli Football Association, who insisted that Israel had broken “no laws or rules” and had “supported and would continue to support” Palestinian football.Israel’s relationship with Palestinian football was defended by Ofer Eini, the president of the Israeli Football Association, who insisted that Israel had broken “no laws or rules” and had “supported and would continue to support” Palestinian football.
The sudden escalation in the long-rumbling row over the complaints against Israel by the Palestinian football authorities comes in the midst of a wider effort by Palestinians to internationalise their cause.The sudden escalation in the long-rumbling row over the complaints against Israel by the Palestinian football authorities comes in the midst of a wider effort by Palestinians to internationalise their cause.
That has included their pursuit of a resolution on the UN security council backing a deadline for statehood and joining the international criminal court. However, Palestinian officials deny that the latest move is political. That has included their pursuit of a resolution on the UN security council backing a deadline for statehood and joining the international criminal court. However, Palestinian officials deny that the latest move is politically motivated.
The scheduled vote comes at a difficult time for Blatter, who is seeking re-election at the same congress while facing challenges on a number of issues, including pressure over the staging of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.The scheduled vote comes at a difficult time for Blatter, who is seeking re-election at the same congress while facing challenges on a number of issues, including pressure over the staging of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
At the heart of the long-running controversy over Palestinian football are complaints that Israel does not allow free movement of Palestinian or foreign players, that its policy is discriminatory and that five teams in the Israeli football league are based in illegal settlements, in contravention of Fifa rules.At the heart of the long-running controversy over Palestinian football are complaints that Israel does not allow free movement of Palestinian or foreign players, that its policy is discriminatory and that five teams in the Israeli football league are based in illegal settlements, in contravention of Fifa rules.
Despite the creation of a liaison mechanism set up at the instigation of Blatter and regional football associations over the last two years, Rajoub says there has been no improvement for Palestinian footballers. Despite the creation of a liaison mechanism set up at the instigation of Blatter and regional football associations over the last two years, Rajoub said there had been no improvement for Palestinian footballers.
The draft Palestinian resolution lists six key arguments for Israel’s suspension, which include:The draft Palestinian resolution lists six key arguments for Israel’s suspension, which include:
Related: We call on Fifa to suspend the Israel Football Association | LettersRelated: We call on Fifa to suspend the Israel Football Association | Letters
Rajoub has warned that if the Fifa congress did not vote in favour of its motion it would take the issue to the court of arbitration in sport: “ I think there is almost a consensus amongst member associations against racism, against the five clubs from the settlements and for our right to have free movement and access.Rajoub has warned that if the Fifa congress did not vote in favour of its motion it would take the issue to the court of arbitration in sport: “ I think there is almost a consensus amongst member associations against racism, against the five clubs from the settlements and for our right to have free movement and access.
“The whole congress should raise the red card. We have discussed with everyone and no one has said our demands are irrational or illegal.”“The whole congress should raise the red card. We have discussed with everyone and no one has said our demands are irrational or illegal.”
In a telephone briefing Rotem Kamer, chief executive of the Israeli Football Association, denied his association had control over security issues at the heart of the Palestinian complaint, adding that it was the preserve of the government and not Israel’s football authorities. In a telephone briefing, Rotem Kamer, chief executive of the Israeli Football Association, denied his association had control over security issues at the heart of the Palestinian complaint, adding that it was the preserve of the government and not Israel’s football authorities.
“We have found ourselves in the last two months in a political conflict that has nothing do with football in the region. It started two years ago. Now we find ourselves the target of an unprecedented proposal to be suspended,” said Kamer.“We have found ourselves in the last two months in a political conflict that has nothing do with football in the region. It started two years ago. Now we find ourselves the target of an unprecedented proposal to be suspended,” said Kamer.
“This does not have place at the Fifa congress. I believe football should be a bridge that shows governments that football brings people together, not be a weapon.” “This does not have a place at the Fifa congress. I believe football should be a bridge that shows governments that football brings people together, not be a weapon.”