the Palestinian federation calls on Fifa to suspend that of Israel because of the war in Gaza – Libération

The war between Hamas and IsraeldossierThe Palestinian demand is motivated by the footballers killed, the infrastructure destroyed as well as the hateful remarks of certain Israeli leaders and supporters. World football boss Gianni Infantino has promised a decision by July 20.

Like Eurovision, world football has not escaped the conflict that is igniting the Middle East. The Palestinian Football Federation (PFA) demanded this Friday, May 17, the “immediate” suspension of Israel from Fifa, the governing body of world football, due to the war in Gaza. She accuses the Israeli Football Federation of a series of violations of the statutes of the world football body, in the enclave besieged by the Israeli army as in the West Bank.

In a seven-page letter sent in mid-March, the Palestinian federation listed the direct consequences of the Israeli bombings in Gaza – “at least 92 footballers killed” and all sports infrastructure destroyed – but also underlined the absence of serious fight against “ anti-Palestinian discrimination and racism, racism claimed by some supporters of the Beitar Jerusalem club, as well as publications by Israeli leaders on social networks supporting “the genocide in Gaza”.

The president of the Palestinian federation Jibril Rajoub urged Fifa to “stand on the right side of history” by voting for the immediate suspension of the Israeli federation and referring several of its members to the disciplinary commission. “The ball is in your court,” concluded Jibril Rajoub, addressing Fifa boss Gianni Infantino.

The Palestinian federation’s requests for sanctions against its Israeli counterpart (IFA) “fall within the competence of the Fifa Council”, the executive of the body, “and will have to be managed by this body”, responded from his side. Infantino side. The Italian-Swiss leader, however, refused to have a vote on this point at the 74th Congress of the organization, meeting this Friday in Bangkok, as the president of the Palestinian federation had demanded in front of the representatives of the 210 other member federations. However, he promised a decision by July 20.

Friendly matches “considered”

The leader of the world football body said he had commissioned “an independent legal expertise”, the conclusions of which will be read to the Fifa Council, which will meet in an extraordinary manner by July 20 “to take the decisions which are appropriate”. In the meantime, according to Gianni Infantino, “FIFA will send independent legal experts to analyze” the arguments of the Palestinian federation.

For his part, Israeli football president Shino Moshe Zuares denounced a “cynical attempt” to “harm Israeli football”, based according to him “on reasons that have nothing to do with sport”. “This is an extremely complicated political situation. I don’t wish anyone to experience this kind of tragedy,” he said, assuring that he wanted to “reach out a hand” and “consider friendly matches” when “the atmosphere becomes calmer again.”