Palestinians urge FIFA to act on settlement clubs

The Palestinian Football Association on Wednesday reiterated a call for FIFA to act against Israeli clubs based in West Bank settlements, a day ahead of a key meeting.

Six Israeli teams are based in settlements, which are considered illegal by much of the world, and FIFA is expected to discuss the issue during its executive committee meeting on Thursday and Friday.

Palestinian FA head Jibril Rajoub called on FIFA to force Israel to either expel the clubs or relocate them inside Israel’s recognized borders.

“We are sending a message to the international community and the executive committee of FIFA that the time has come to solve this matter,” he said.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week told AFP the settlement clubs were a “priority” for him.

Asked by AFP what they would do if FIFA didn’t rule in their favor this week, Rajoub said they could take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Palestinian Football Association (PFA) head Jibril Rajoub holds a press conference on October 12, 2016 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Abbas Momani/AFP)

“We will take it to (CAS) and demand FIFA respect international law,” he said.

The Israel Football Association has accused the Palestinians of dragging sport “from the football field into a political one,” saying it wants to develop the game as a “bridge connecting people and not as a wall that divides them.”

Wilfried Lemke, special adviser to the UN secretary-general on sport for development and peace, last week wrote to FIFA in support of the Palestinians’ case.

“All teams playing in recognized FIFA competitions should abide by the laws of the game,” he said in a letter.

A FIFA committee headed by South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale was established last year to consider complaints against the Israeli FA.