FIFA postpones decision on Palestinian request to suspend Israel

FIFA has postponed a decision on the Palestinian request to ban Israel from international football until after the Olympic Games in Paris, saying both parties had asked for more time to present their position.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) had requested Israel’s suspension in May because of the Gaza war, after which FIFA ordered an urgent legal review and promised to address the issue at an extraordinary council meeting in July.

The world football association announced on Thursday that the legal assessment would now be presented 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 X-Account.

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 play against 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 a cross-border attack by militant Hamas 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 Gaza health officials.

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

Israel says its strikes target militants and aim to prevent another attack like the one on October 7.