FIFA, soccerтАЩs global governing body, on Friday postponed a decision to temporarily suspend Israel over its actions during the conflict in Gaza, and in the West Bank, saying it needed to solicit legal advice before taking up a motion submitted by the Palestinian Football Association.
The motion calling for IsraelтАЩs suspension referred to тАЬinternational law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza,тАЭ and cited violations of FIFAтАЩs human rights and discrimination statutes.
Responding to emotionally charged addresses at FIFAтАЩs annual congress by the head of the Palestinian soccer body, Jibril Rajoub, FIFAтАЩs president, Gianni Infantino, said the urgency of the situation meant he would convene an extraordinary meeting of FIFAтАЩs top board on July 25.
Before that meeting, he said, FIFA will ask experts to analyze whether IsraelтАЩs actions breach the governing bodyтАЩs regulations. By contrast, in 2022, FIFA acted quickly to bar Russian teams and clubs from competitions after the countryтАЩs forces launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Mr. Rajoub has for years pursued sanctions against Israel and its teams over a variety of issues, including freedom of movement for Palestinian players and for allowing teams based in territory overseen by the Palestinian soccer federation to play in IsraelтАЩs domestic leagues. Since Israeli forces invaded Gaza last October in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, all soccer infrastructure in the territory, including a historic stadium, has been destroyed, Mr. Rajoub said.
IsraelтАЩs soccer chief, Moshe Zuares, called the Palestinian motion тАЬcynical.тАЭ But the possibility of even a temporary ban on its teams could affect its chances to take part in qualifying for the 2026 menтАЩs World Cup later this year.
Both Israeli and Palestinian officials had used the run-up to FridayтАЩs congress to lobby officials from other national federations. A day earlier, at a meeting of Asian soccerтАЩs governing body, members were shown a video showing the effects of the war in Gaza and then unanimously approved a decision to back the Palestinian federationтАЩs motion.
Palestinian officials addressed FIFAтАЩs 211 members twice during FridayтАЩs meeting, and were followed by an official from Jordan who demanded action from FIFA.
While acknowledging the urgency of the matter, Mr. Infantino declined to call a vote. Instead, he said, the organizationтАЩs 37-member governing council would decide what to do in two months.
тАЬFIFA will mandate as of now an independent legal expertise to assess the three requests made by the Palestinian Football Association and make sure that the status and regulations of FIFA are applied in the correct way,тАЭ he said.
