Zionist Entity:‘Israel’ Lobbying FIFA to Prevent Settlement ...

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‘Israel’ Lobbying FIFA to Prevent Settlement Teams’ Ban

Local Editor

The ‘Israeli' entity is using backdoor diplomacy to block Palestinian calls for FIFA to impose sanctions over football clubs based in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Football Association [PFA] said.

In this regard, Palestinian leaders demanded that the ‘Israeli' federation be suspended from world football unless it orders the six teams - Beitar Ironi, Beitar Ironi Ariel, Beitar Givat Ze'ev, Beitar Ma'aleh Adomim, Hapoel Oranit and Hapoel Bik'at Hayarden - be relocated.

The PFA argues that the teams' inclusion within ‘Israeli' leagues seeks to normalize Zionist claim to Palestinian territories it occupied in 1967.

FIFA, the world football governing body, is meeting for its 2017 Congress in Bahrain next month and could decide what action to take over the six clubs.

"I have been informed of ‘Israel's' movements by people who have directly been approached by ‘Israeli' diplomats," Susan Shalabi, PFA vice-president, told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

"By involving diplomats in this issue, ‘Israel' is breaching FIFA's statutes again," Shalabi added.

"Our position on this matter is very clear: We can't accept ‘Israeli' football association running its activities on our territory. If we accept a compromise, we will be part of the crime."

The Zionist foreign ministry instructed its embassy staff worldwide to persuade the country representatives to FIFA to foil any plans of Palestinian officials pressing ahead with the ban, Haaretz reported on Thursday.

"Our growing assessment is that the FIFA Congress is liable to make a decision on suspending six ‘Israeli' teams that play over the Green Line, or even on suspending ‘Israel' from FIFA," said a cable sent by the ministry, according to the Haaretz.

"We urge you to contact your countries' representatives on the FIFA Council as soon as possible to obtain their support for ‘Israel's' position, which rejects mixing politics with sport and calls for reaching an agreed solution between the parties ... and to thwart an anti-‘Israel' decision if it is brought before the council."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team