FIFA refuses to suspend Israel over levelling of Gaza and West Bank settlement clubs in Israeli leagues
March 20 – FIFA has said it will not act against Israeli settlement clubs in the West Bank, but fined the Israeli FA (IFA) over discrimination.
At the 2024 FIFA Congress, the Palestinian FA (PFA) demanded Israel be suspended from the global game over the war in Gaza and that FIFA act against Israeli settlement clubs in the West Bank, which prompted FIFA to seek ‘independent’ legal advice.
On Thursday, following a meeting of the FIFA Council, the world governing body dismissed the PFA and its argument that Israel violates FIFA statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in the national league, saying: “FIFA should take no action given that, in the context of the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes, the final legal status of the West Bank remains an unresolved and highly complex matter under public international law.”
However, in 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the West Bank, is unlawful.
The Court noted that it “considers that the violations by Israel of the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force and of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination have a direct impact on the legality of the continued presence of Israel, as an occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The sustained abuse by Israel of its position as an occupying Power, through annexation and an assertion of permanent control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and continued frustration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, violates fundamental principles of international law and renders Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory unlawful. This illegality relates to the entirety of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in 1967.”
In its statement, FIFA added that it will “promote dialogue” and “monitor developments”.
It’s understood that the PFA will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In its statement, the PFA questioned “the effective application of FIFA’s regulatory framework.”
“The PFA respectfully recalls that this matter has been under continuous consideration within FIFA structures since 2013, including through the findings of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, the independent legal assessment commissioned by FIFA, and extensive expert submissions. These processes have established a consistent and comprehensive factual and legal record, including the identification of Israeli settlement clubs operating in the internationally recognised territory of Palestine and the applicable provisions of the FIFA Statutes.”
FIFA’s own statement downplayed the PFA’s accusations.
Last year, the United States said that it would oppose and fight any effort to suspend Israel. In December, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino awarded US President Donald Trump with the maiden FIFA Peace Prize. On February 28 the US and Israel began its bombing of Iran.
Infantino’s close ties to Trump recently saw the FIFA president attended the first Board of Peace meeting and pledge $75 million for football-related projects as part of the rebuild of Gaza.
Contact the writer of this story at power.l1774015415labto1774015415ofdlr1774015415late1774015415sni@i1774015415tnuk.1774015415ardni1774015415but1774015415
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