FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that the organisation will seek independent legal guidance regarding the Palestinian Football Association's call to suspend its Israeli counterpart over recent events in Gaza.
The Palestinian federation (PFA) proposed a vote to exclude Israel at FIFA's congress in Bangkok on Friday, a move backed by the Jordanian FA. FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that the decision rests with the FIFA Council, pending a legal evaluation.
"How much more must the Palestine football family suffer for FIFA to act with the same severity and urgency as it did in other cases?" PFA president Jibril Rajoub said.
"Does FIFA consider some wars to be more important than others and some victims to be more significant? I ask you to stand on the right side of history. The suffering of millions, including thousands of footballers, deserves as much. If not now, then when? Mr President, the ball is in your court."
The conflict in Gaza commenced following an attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and over 252 individuals taken captive. Over 35,000 palestinians have since been killed by Israel's offensive in Gaza, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says.
Shino Moshe Zuares, the president of the Israel Football Association, said, "We are facing a cynical political and hostile attempt by the Palestinian association to harm Israeli football.
"Seven months after the terrible day, when football matches cannot be played in large parts of Israel, north and south, and over 130 Israelis are still being held in Gaza, it is injustice that even in these circumstances we find ourselves fighting for our basic right to be part of the game."
Infantino stated that an urgent legal evaluation of the PFA's allegations would be conducted, with the FIFA Council scheduling an extraordinary congress in late July to discuss the matter.
"Football should not and should never become a hostage for politics and always remain a vector for peace, a source of hope, a force of good, uniting people rather than dividing," he said.
"This legal assessment will have to allow for inputs and claims of both member associations. The results of this analysis and the recommendations which will follow from this analysis will subsequently be forwarded to the FIFA Council."
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