FIFA is seeking legal advice on the Palestinians’ proposal to ban Israel from international football

During FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) annual congress in Bangkok, The Football Association announced this seek independent legal advice on the possibility of suspending Israel from international football.

The call for suspension was suggested decided by the Palestinian Football Association on Friday May 17th and will be discussed at the FIFA Council meeting on July 20th.

The decision to seek legal advice was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday at the FIFA Congress after representatives of the Palestinian and Israeli football associations addressed the 211 member associations.

The Palestinian Football Association’s proposal called called for “appropriate sanctions with immediate effect against Israeli teams” and referred to “violations of international law by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza.”

The application states that “all football infrastructure in Gaza was either destroyed or severely damaged, including the historic Al-Yarmuk Stadium.”

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, said “The Palestinian people, including the Palestinian football family, are experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” and that he had been threatened by the Israeli foreign minister over the proposal.

The Palestinian Football Association has behaved Since 2014, he has addressed the challenges of Palestinian football at the FIFA Congress at least five times, but has not yet achieved the desired progress.

However, Infantino clarified that the “proposal” cannot be decided by a full vote of FIFA members on Friday as it falls under the jurisdiction of the FIFA Governing Council.

He emphasized the need to “apply FIFA’s statutes and its regulations” and to ensure “fair and due process” by obtaining independent legal advice.

Infantino continues written down that the Council unanimously condemned acts of violence and reiterated that “football should not and never should be held hostage to politics.”