Palestinians to ask FIFA to suspend Israel

Friday, 3 April 2015 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: The Palestinian Football Association will ask the FIFA Congress in May to suspend Israel, accusing it of continuing to hamper its soccer activities. Despite efforts by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to ease tensions, the Palestinians remain frustrated at restrictions they say Israel imposes on the movement of

their athletes between the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Football Association also cited curbs Israel places on the import into Palestinian territories of sports equipment and on visits by foreign teams and individuals. President of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, said that they submitted a resolution’s draft asking the Congress of FIFA to suspend Israel. “We have submitted a resolution’s draft to the FIFA Congress that will be held on the 28th, 29th of May (of this year),” Rajoub said. “We are asking for talks about the membership continuation of the Israel Football Association, because of the behaviour and policies of the Israeli government. and the attitude of the (Israel Football) Association that acts like a partner (with the Israeli government). The policies of the Israeli occupation which is taking our right of movement away from us.” “We are expecting from all the National (Football) Association in the world to stand with us to end our suffering and pain. It all starts when the other side recognises our right on fair bases. If not, then they will have to deal with the consequences,” Rajoub added. In 2013, Blatter established a task force which included himself, the Israeli and Palestinian soccer chiefs and the heads of the European and Asian soccer confederations to examine the Palestinian complaints and to try to resolve them. But Rajoub said he has lost patience, and he has called on FIFA to show Israel “the red card”. Israel cites security concerns for restrictions it imposes in the West Bank, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority exercises limited self rule, and along the border with the Hamas Islamist-run Gaza Strip. But it says it has eased travel for Palestinian athletes between the two territories, which requires passage via Israel. In December, Rajoub called on FIFA to sanction Israel after Israeli troops entered the offices of the Palestine Football Association. An army spokesman said at the time soldiers were seeking a wanted individual and were not targeting the premises because of its links to soccer.