FIFA postpones decision on Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel

FIFA has postponed its decision on the Palestinian request to ban Israel from international football until after the Paris Olympics, citing requests from both parties for more time to present their positions.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) put forward the proposal in May, immediately after the Gaza conflict. This prompted FIFA to order an urgent legal assessment and to call an extraordinary council meeting for July to address the matter.

On Thursday, FIFA announced that the legal assessment would now be submitted to its Council by August 31.

“After both parties requested an extension to submit their respective positions and this was duly granted by FIFA, more time is required to complete this process with due diligence and completeness,” FIFA said on its account X.

The Olympic Games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11, with the group matches of the men’s football tournament beginning on July 24.

Israel has qualified for the men’s tournament and will face Mali, Paraguay and Japan in the group stage.

A report published this week by lawyers specializing in international law called on FIFA to exclude Israel from the Cup for violating several FIFA statutes relating to human rights and humanitarian objectives.

Since the Hamas incursion on October 7, in which Israel said more than 1,200 people were killed, more than 38,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli Gaza offensive, according to health authorities in the Gaza Strip.

Critics accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians, which Israel denies.

Israel says its attacks are directed against Hamas members and are aimed at preventing another attack like the one on October 7.