The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, announced this Friday at Bangkok that the governing body will hold an extraordinary Council before July 20 to “study and make decisions” on the petition of Palestinian Federation to “immediately suspend” the association of Israel.
“Football is to unite us and not divide us,” Infantino said, after listening to speeches by Palestinian and Israeli representatives during the FIFA Congress to be held in the Thai capital, and by specifying that the decision in this matter rests with the Council.
The president of FIFA reported the creation of an external advisory committee to study the proposals presented by Palestine and it will be in charge of initiating “legal review” before making decisions.
“FIFA does not intend to create divisions, but I have, as president, to apply the laws regardless of my personal beliefs,” said Infantino, stressing that he only wants “peace”.
A few minutes before the announcement, the president of Palestinian Football Federation, Jibril Rajoubasked to vote this Friday on a proposal presented, and supported by Jordanto “immediately suspend” the Israeli association and disqualify its representatives in the context of the conflict in Gaza between the Army of Israel and Hamas.
“The FIFA cannot be indifferent,” asserted Rajoub, describing the Israeli federation as “complicit” in the war in Gaza that destroyed “all sports infrastructure” and in which 45,000 people died, including 193 players of football.
For his part, the president of Federation of Israel, Moshe Zoaretzrecalled the attack carried out on October 7 by armed groups linked to the terrorist group Hamas against the south of Israeli territory, which left more than 1,200 dead and hundreds kidnapped, for which Israel declared war.
“Seven months after those attacks, football matches are still not organized in the north and south of Israel,” he said. Zoaretz by classifying the proposal promoted by his Palestinian counterpart as “cynical” and “outrageous” and asserting that it had “nothing to do with football.”
On Thursday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed support for the Palestinian Football Federation to call for sanctions against the Israeli Federation for violating FIFA laws related to human rights.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
