FIFA Again Delays Decision on Palestinian Bid to Ban Israel From International Competitions

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA announced that it will again delay making a final decision regarding efforts by the Palestine Football Association (PFA) to have Israel suspended from international soccer due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip.

FIFA said on Friday that the subject will be discussed at the next FIFA Council meeting in October, but did not give an exact date.

“FIFA has received the independent legal assessment of the Palestine Football Association’s proposals against the Israel Football Association,” it said in a released statement. “This assessment will be sent to the FIFA Council to review in order that the subject can be discussed at its next meeting, which will take place in October. FIFA would like to thank both member associations for their ongoing support and cooperation.”

The PFA submitted a proposal in May to sanction Israel and ban the country from all international soccer competitions, citing “international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza.” The proposal also accused the Israel Football Association (IFA) of “providing moral, economic, and practical support to the occupation” of Palestinian territories. The proposal was backed by Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein — who is president of the Jordanian Football Association and half-brother of Jordan’s King Abdullah II — as well as the Asian Football Confederation.

The FIFA Council decided not to discuss the issue at the 74th FIFA Congress in May. FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained at the time that the governing body would instead “mandate [an] independent legal expertise to analyze and assess” PFA’s allegations about Israel, and hold a special council before July 20 “to review the results of the legal assessment and to take the decisions that are appropriate.” Then on July 18, days before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, FIFA said the legal assessment would be shared with its council by Aug. 31. It has now been pushed again, this time until October.

IFA President Shino Moshe Zuares rejected the accusations made by the PFA against Israel. He said the proposal is “a cynical political and hostile attempt by the Palestinian association to harm Israel.” He also criticized those “who insist on using [soccer] to punish, to split, to taint with political motives and increase hatred.”