FIFA, the world’s governing body for football, has once again delayed its decision on a Palestinian bid to have Israel suspended from international football. The organization announced late on Friday that it will now consider the Palestine Football Association’s (PFA) proposals against the Israel Football Association (IFA) in October.
The PFA submitted its proposal to suspend Israel in May, prompting FIFA to order an urgent legal evaluation and promising to address it at an extraordinary council meeting in July. While FIFA initially planned to share the legal assessment with its council by August 31st, the organization has now pushed the review to October.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed it received the independent legal assessment of the PFA’s proposals and will be sending it to the FIFA Council for review. The council will then discuss the matter at its next meeting, scheduled for October. FIFA declined to provide further details about the assessment or the specific date for the October meeting.
The PFA, which has not yet responded to requests for comment, accuses the IFA of complicity in violations of international law by the Israeli government. They also claim discrimination against Arab players and the inclusion of clubs based in Palestinian territory within the Israeli league. These accusations have been rejected by the IFA.
The PFA highlights the tragic impact of the conflict, stating that at least 92 Palestinian players have been killed. Football infrastructure has been destroyed, leagues have been suspended, and the Palestinian national team is forced to play World Cup qualifiers abroad. The PFA seeks “appropriate sanctions” against Israeli teams, including the national team and clubs, as part of their proposal.
