FIFA has once again delayed making a decision on the Palestinian call to ban Israel from football, citing the need for its disciplinary committee to review allegations of discrimination raised by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA). The PFA had accused the Israel Football Association (IFA) of violating FIFA statutes with its actions in Gaza and the inclusion of teams in illegal settlements on Palestinian territory in its domestic league.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the council had conducted “due diligence” on the matter and followed the advice of independent experts. The PFA’s head of the legal department, Katarina Pijetlovic, criticized FIFA’s decision as “purely political,” accusing the organization of enabling human rights abuses and facilitating illegal occupation and colonialism.
The ongoing war in Gaza has had a devastating impact on football in Palestine, with over 41,700 people killed and 96,000 wounded since last October. The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 410 athletes, sports officials, or coaches, including 297 footballers, 84 of whom were children. The war has forced the Palestinian men’s football team to play matches away from home, using football as a form of resistance and a means to convey a message to the world.
Gaza-based football writer Abubaker Abed highlighted the importance of football as a platform to reach millions of people and express the Palestinian struggle. He expressed disappointment in the international community for failing to address Israel’s destruction of sports facilities in Gaza, noting that more than 50 sports facilities, including nine out of 10 stadiums, have been destroyed in the conflict. One stadium in Deir el-Balah has been transformed into a shelter for thousands of displaced individuals.
As FIFA continues to grapple with the issue of Israeli participation in football amid the conflict in Gaza, the situation remains complex and deeply intertwined with political and humanitarian concerns. The delay in making a decision reflects the challenges faced by the international football governing body in addressing sensitive and contentious issues that go beyond the realm of sports. The impact of the war on football in Palestine underscores the broader implications of the conflict on the lives of athletes and the sporting community in the region.
