"Any move by Uefa to suspend Israel may prove a difficult one politically for Fifa, whose president Gianni Infantino has a close relationship with United States president Donald Trump. The US will co-host next summer's World Cup. A spokesman for the US state department told Sky News on Thursday: "We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel's national soccer team from the World Cup.""
"Fifa has faced long-standing calls from the Palestinian Football Association to suspend Israel, most recently at its Congress in Paraguay in May. "Our issue is stuck in a highly politicised, bureaucratic holding pattern, not unlike the suffering of our people - visible, undeniable, but sadly ignored," a PFA delegate said. "We must all realise that by delaying the decision, Fifa will be seen to be supporting the illegal settlements.""
An extraordinary UEFA executive committee meeting is being planned to consider suspending Israel, though no date has been confirmed. Israel has been a full UEFA member since 1994 and is facing growing international criticism over its attacks on Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks inside Israel. PA reporting indicates support within UEFA member associations for suspension. FIFA faces political sensitivity because president Gianni Infantino has a close relationship with US president Donald Trump and the US will co-host next summer's World Cup. The US state department vowed to stop any effort to ban Israel's national team. Israel sits third in its qualifying group. One Israeli club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, remains in European competition and is due to face Aston Villa on November 6. The Palestinian Football Association has repeatedly called for suspension and FIFA says independent committees are examining the complaints.
Read at Irish Independent
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]